Twins Place Taj Bradley on IL

The Athletic’s Dan Hayes reports that the Twins are placing right-handed starting pitcher Taj Bradley on the 15-day injured list with right pectoral muscle inflammation, and recalling right-hander Travis Adams from Triple-A St. Paul to take his roster spot. Bradley had been scheduled to start on Sunday.

It's a frustrating setback for a pitcher who has been the bright spot of Minnesota's rotation. Through eight starts, Bradley owns a 2.87 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 47 innings, having gone at least six innings in six of his last seven outings and allowing more than two earned runs just once all year. His fastball has touched 99 mph and averaged better than 96.5, a tick up from where he sat a year ago. On Tuesday in Washington, he carved up the Nationals over six innings while generating 13 swings and misses, the latest in a string of dominant starts that have him pitching like a frontline starter.

The injury is also unwelcome history. Bradley missed the start of the 2024 season with a right pec strain as a member of the Rays, costing him two months. The Twins have not yet announced a timetable for his return.

Bradley was acquired from Tampa Bay minutes before the end of last summer's trade deadline, with the Twins sending All-Star reliever Griffin Jax to the Rays in exchange. Jax was one of the Twins' best relievers, and under team control through 2027, so the deal was widely criticized. Bradley’s breakout this April and May has completely flipped that narrative.

Adams, recently activated from his own triceps injury, could provide bullpen length or could play a part in how the Twins backfill Sunday's start. Zebby Matthews, who pitched for the Twins last year, struggled early this year in AAA-St. Paul, but has recently refound velocity and success there, and could be a longer term replacement as well. But he would not be an option for Sunday, as he pitched Friday night for the Saints.