The Minnesota Twins are seven games under .500, yet trail the third and final AL Wild Card spot by just three games. One big reason the Twins are still in the playoff race has been the performance of right-handed starting pitcher Taj Bradley, whom Minnesota acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hander Griffin Jax last summer.
Bradley was arguably the Twins' best starting pitcher this season before being placed on the injured list on May 9 due to right pectoralis muscle inflammation. In 47 innings across eight starts before landing on the IL, Bradley posted a 2.87 ERA with a 26.1% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk rate.
The former Rays right-hander had a strong first start after being reinstated from the IL, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings against the Boston Red Sox on May 23. However, he has surrendered four runs in each of his two starts since; Bradley allowed five hits and two walks to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 29, then allowed seven hits and five walks to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.
Even though Bradley has been a key contributor for the Twins this season, his past two starts are cause for concern. If the Twins want any chance at making a surprise postseason run, the team likely needs Bradley to start pitching to the best of his abilities.
Why has Bradley struggled lately?
It's entirely plausible that Bradley is just getting back into the swing of things after missing a couple of weeks, and will be pitching like an ace again in no time. However, his streaky history suggests it's also possible he won't return to the version of himself who looked like a top-5 pitcher in baseball earlier this year.
From June 8-July 25, 2024, Bradley had an absolutely dominant nine-start stretch in which he posted a 0.82 ERA with a 30.8% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk rate across 55 innings. Then, he finished the season by posting a 6.51 ERA with a 22.4% strikeout rate and a 7.8% walk rate in 56 2/3 innings across 11 starts. History may be repeating itself for Bradley in 2026.
Bradley's start against the Tigers in Detroit tonight could indicate whether he is merely struggling to get back to form due to his recent injury or if he is destined to be a streaky pitcher. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:40 p.m. CDT and will be available to watch on Twins.TV.
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