Obviously, Taj Bradley landing on the 15-day injured list is bad news. The right-handed starter has been Minnesota's best starting pitcher this season with a 2.87 ERA, 26.1% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate in 47 innings across eight starts. It's a huge blow for the Twins' rotation, especially given Mick Abel's recent setback. However, Bradley's injury at least created an opportunity for left-handed pitching prospect Kendry Rojas to rejoin the big-league squad. The Twins recalled right-handed reliever Travis Adams to take Bradley's spot on the 26-man roster. Rojas joined the taxi squad in Cleveland and will likely be activated tomorrow, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes.
If/when the Twins activate Rojas ahead of Sunday's game against the Guardians, Minnesota will have to make a corresponding move. The Twins may just send Adams, who's allowed six earned runs over six innings with the Saints since returning from his right triceps strain late last month, back to Triple-A after having him throw an inning or two in Saturday's game. Or, the Twins may DFA right-handed reliever Luis GarcÃa, who has posted a 19.64 ERA over 3 2/3 innings since the Twins selected his contract late last month.
Andrew Morris, Kendry Rojas will likely pitch vs. Guardians Sunday
Bradley was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday. Rojas, MLB Pipeline's No. 10 overall Twins prospect, and righty Andrew Morris will both likely pitch multiple innings during tomorrow's game.
Morris last pitched against the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, surrendering one earned run in 2/3 of an inning. He also hurled 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief last Sunday after Joe Ryan exited the game in the first inning.
Meanwhile, Rojas last pitched on Tuesday, surrendering two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings with Triple-A St. Paul. The Twins have Rojas on a plan where he pitches multiple innings every four days for the Saints. He'll be fully rested to pitch in the Twins-Guardians series finale tomorrow.
Rojas, whom the Twins acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays as part of the Louis Varland trade last summer, made his MLB debut with the Twins against the Mets in New York on April 22, his only MLB appearance thus far in his career. The southpaw pitched two scoreless innings vs. New York despite allowing two hits and three walks with no strikeouts. In five appearances with the Saints this season, Rojas has posted a 2.40 ERA with a 24.2% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate over 15 innings.
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