Rotation Reinforcements Incoming for Minnesota Twins

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Pablo Lopez - Minnesota Twins
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins continue to fall further from postseason grace, as the 2025 regular season drags into late August. Now 58-67, we’re just monitoring the progress of youngsters like Luke Keaschall (.951 OPS), Brooks Lee (.671 OPS) and Royce Lewis (.657 OPS) while waiting for game 162 to mercifully come.

As for the Twins pitching, it’s in shambles. After trading away every worthwhile pitcher in their bullpen, before the deadline, no lead is safe right now. Minnesota’s new look, no-name bullpen blew leads in two of the Twins’ three losses against Detroit last week.

Unfortunately, the starting rotation hasn’t been much better. With a shotty defense behind him, even Joe Ryan struggled Tuesday, in the All-Star’s most recent outing, where he allowed 5 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and only stayed in the game for four innings.

Pablo Lopez, Simeon Woods Richardson ready to begin rehab assignments

But thankfully, some recently rumored pitching reinforcements officially began their way back to the Minnesota Twins’ starting rotation. According to multiple reports, both Pablo Lopez and Simeon Woods Richardson will make rehab appearances on Thursday for the St. Paul Saints.

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Since the trade deadline on July 31, Minnesota Twins pitchers have been better than advertised, producing a 3.93 ERA and 4.60 FIP. Manager Rocco Baldelli has been working out walking between the dugout and mound more than any other time in his seven-year Twins tenure.

He’s deploying full-time and part-time starters, while trying to find a rhythm for the bullpen. But really, the season started going wrong for MN Twins pitchers after Pablo Lopez went down with his Teres Major strain on June 3.

Prior to that start, Lopez — now 29 years old — had pitched 55.2 innings to the tune of a 2.75 ERA and 2.99 FIP, to go with about 10 K/9 innings for the 2025 Twins.

Minnesota Twins rotation will look much better with Lopez and SWR

At that time, the staff was thriving as a whole. While Pablo was healthy (March 27 to June 2), Minnesota sat near the top of the league in ERA (3.33), FIP (3.50) and held a nearly 4/1 K/BB ratio (524/144). Since his injury, the staff’s numbers have fallen through the floor — 4.47 ERA, 4.05 FIP.

Unlike Pablo Lopez, Simeon Woods Richardson had a difficult start to his 2025 season. From his first start on April 1 to the last one before he was demoted on May 14, SWR’s ERA ballooned to 5.02, which was better than his 5.29 FIP.

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The 24-year-old righty returned to the Minnesota Twins rotation on June 10, shortly after Lopez’ injury, looking like a different dude. In his last 9 starts, prior to hitting the injured list with a intestinal parasite, he produced a much more acceptable 3.56 ERA and 4.21 FIP (43 IP).

If he and Lopez can both return to form for the remainder of the season, while it won’t push the Twins back into the AL playoff picture, it should at least return their starting rotation to its above average status.

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