The Minnesota Twins have placed right-handed starting pitcher Taj Bradley on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 6) with right pectoralis muscle inflammation, the team announced. Right-handed pitcher Travis Adams has taken Bradley's spot on Minnesota's 26-man roster.
While every team deals with injuries, it feels as if the Twins' most important players, including top prospects, cannot seem to remain healthy. The Twins lost Mick Abel to the injured list with right elbow inflammation on April 20. Abel had recently appeared on the verge of making a rehab start before receiving a cortisone shot in his right triceps after feeling discomfort following a bullpen session last Saturday, per The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Minnesota will re-evaluate Abel on Tuesday.
Additionally, right-handed pitcher David Festa, who has been on the IL all season, felt renewed discomfort after a recent throwing session. Top outfield prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodríguez are also sidelined with injuries. Luckily, Rodríguez's injury, a left thumb strain, doesn't seem too serious. But Jenkins, who suffered a grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder while running into the outfield wall making a catch on Sunday, may be sidelined for a while. Not to mention, Pablo López was supposed to headline the Twins' starting rotation this year with Ryan before undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in February.
It feels like the baseball gods decided to grant Twins fans good news regarding Joe Ryan's injury scare in exchange for numerous other players suffering injuries. Ryan is slated to start against the Guardians at Progressive Field tonight after exiting his last outing in the first inning with right elbow soreness on Sunday. Upon Ryan leaving his last start, most assumed the ace would 100% land on the IL. In a season full of disappointment for Minnesota, Ryan's positive injury update gave fans something to be happy about.
How will Twins' starting rotation look without Bradley?
Hopefully, Bradley, who has a 2.87 ERA in 47 innings this year, will only miss a handful of starts. If he hadn't suffered his injury, he would be preparing to start in the series finale of the three-game set between Minnesota and Cleveland tomorrow.
Adams, whom the Twins had activated from the IL and optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on April 30 before recalling him today, isn't a starter. Righty Andrew Morris, who threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Ryan on Sunday, may make the start for Minnesota tomorrow. Morris last pitched against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, surrendering one earned run in 2/3 of an inning. Minnesota could use Morris for 3-4 innings as a starter or reliever on Sunday. Once the Twins get past Sunday, they may consider recalling righty Zebby Matthews, who allowed three earned runs over eight innings for Triple-A St. Paul on Friday.
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