With a high-octane fastball and a nasty mix of off-speed stuff, 25-year-old Taj Bradley has been pitching like an ace in the making. Stephen Maturen / Getty Images
May 9, 2026Updated 1:34 pm EDT
CLEVELAND — The Minnesota Twins’ tailspin got a little harder to navigate Saturday after starting pitcher Taj Bradley was placed on the 10-day injured list with a chest injury.
Already losers in 16 of their last 21 games, the Twins’ best starter this season was scratched from Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians because he’s dealing with right pectoral muscle inflammation.
Bradley is 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 47 innings this season.
The Twins promoted right-handed pitcher Travis Adams to replace Bradley. Adams has allowed six earned runs in eight minor-league innings while striking out 10 since returning from a right triceps strain.
The injury news arrives hours ahead of Saturday’s game in Cleveland, which will be started by Joe Ryan, who is coming off an injury scare of his own.
Ryan is a full go despite exiting his start last Sunday with right elbow soreness after only nine pitches. The team cleared Ryan after an MRI showed no structural damage, and he participated in a bullpen session Wednesday.
The Twins’ rotation has been hit hard with injuries for nearly three months now. Pablo López underwent Tommy John surgery in February and is out for the season.
Promising rookie Mick Abel’s season has been slowed, first by right elbow inflammation and now triceps soreness. He received a cortisone shot for the triceps pain earlier this week, and the team said it would re-evaluate Abel on Tuesday to determine when he’ll throw again.
Acquired in the Griffin Jax trade last July, Bradley has looked like an ace in the making. Pairing a high-octane fastball with a nasty mix of off-speed pitches, the 25-year-old righty is living up to his top-25 prospect hype.
May 9, 2026
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