Who could step up for the Twins?
The Twins have a couple of options outside of the four listed above. Randy Dobnak was the team’s starter in Game 2 of the ALDS and Devin Smeltzer pitched well in his starts and long relief appearances. While both pitchers may not be considered frontline starters, each has a shot to help the Twins fill out their rotation.
For the minors, the Twins’ system is one of the better ones in the league according to Baseball America, and they have several hot pitching prospects that are rotation bound within the next three to four years.
Brusdar Graterol got some seasoning as a reliever in 2019 but looks to be a frontline starter going forward, and the duo of Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Duran look to be future studs as well. Can any of them impact the Minnesota Twins next year?
In short answer? No. Graterol needs to head back to the minors to get more work as a starter, so he won’t be ready. Balazoic and Duran are both 21 and need a lot more work in the minors barring a miraculous jump forward. Graterol might make the jump as a second-half spot starter if he stays healthy and everything breaks right. The three starters will make an impact at some point, it just won’t be this year.