With 60% of their projected starting rotation either out for the year or questionable for Opening Day, the one acknowledged strength of the 2026 Minnesota Twins is now in question. Twins Daily is fortunate to have access once again to The Injury Gods, Jontu of the Poison Wind and Cnathol the Endless. They sat down with us to discuss their approach to this year’s squad and the exquisite ache of a long-suffering fanbase.

TWINS DAILY: When did you know you were going to turn your attention to the rotation?

JONTU: That’s a great question, mortal. Honestly, we’ve taken a hands-off approach to your unloved franchise. They’ve been doing the work for us! What is one ACL when your ownership refuses to spend money and reneges on selling the team? We can only remove our thorny, awful crowns in admiration.

CNATHOL: That kind of wickedness is special. It’s special.

JONTU: But then they got to spring training and talked about how they expected the rotation to carry them. In a division like the AL Central, I’m sorry to say that made a lot of sense.

CNATHOL: We saw how confident they were in the starting pitching. That’s when we got to work.

TWINS DAILY: Did you always know you were going to start with Pablo Lopez (out for the season after UCL surgery)?

CNATHOL: (chuckling, emitting a faint hint of sulfur) Yes, yes. 

JONTU: The timing, Cnathol. The timing!

CNATHOL: Tom Pohlad had given his little inspirational speech to the team before the first Lopez appearance. They may as well have put his UCL on a tee.

TWINS DAILY: Was Joe Ryan’s back issue supposed to be minor, or was that a misstep by the Gods?

JONTU: THE GODS DO NOT PLAY DICE, MORTAL. YOU’D DO WELL TO REMEMBER YOUR PLACE. 

TWINS DAILY: I apologize.

CNATHOL: WE’LL HAVE YOU WRITING FOR ROCKIES DAILY IN THE BLINK OF MY LIDLESS EYE.

TWINS DAILY: Very well. Allow me to rephrase: Was it your intention to give Joe Ryan what looks like a minor injury?

JONTU: Yes. A little panic for the suffering masses.

CNATHOL: Then they think they dodged a bullet, and we drop (David) Festa’s shoulder impingement on them. Boom! (Actual thunder rolls in the background)

JONTU: (giggling) It feels good to laugh again, you know?

TWINS DAILY: Are you considering lending your dreadful touch to the bullpen?

CNATHOL: What kind of gotcha journalism is this?

JONTU: Even your puny mortal mind knows that this team hasn’t a bullpen. 

TWINS DAILY: Forgive me, yes. What about the rest of the team. There are some promising young players in the pipeline.

JONTU: Walker Jenkins, correct?

TWINS DAILY: Yes, he appears to be the jewel of the system, should be in the majors this season.

JONTU: We haven’t really explored the “injuries that ooze” space of late. It feels like we could really stretch ourselves, as well as Jenkins’ tender, yielding flesh.

CNATHOL: Those Fanatics jerseys are already horrible, imagine them soaked through with pus. 

JONTU: Did we design those?

CNATHOL: I think Zyzmoz, The One Who Waits did a consult.

TWINS DAILY: Any final thoughts to share with Twins Territory?

CNATHOL: That ache you feel right now? You’ll wish for it come June.

JONTU: Consider getting into MMA. We just let those goons pound each other.