RADIO
Zebby Matthews Shows his Upside With 10-Strikeout Performance on Friday
Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews closed out the month of July in strong form in the team's 5-3 win over the hosting Seattle Mariners on Friday night, allowing three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out 10 in five innings pitched for a no-decision. The 26-year-old is now 4-8 on the season with a 5.22 ERA (5.04 FIP) and 1.31 WHIP with 69 strikeouts and 26 walks in 81 innings pitched across 14 starts in his third year in the majors. Friday's outing was his first double-digit strikeout performance, and he heads into August with five earned runs allowed, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in 11 innings in his last two outings against the Mariners and Athletics after a 10-run blowup (eight earned runs) on July 19 at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The former eight-rounder in 2022 from Western Carolina University has potential, but he's sporting a career-low 20.2% strikeout rate and career-high 7.6% walk rate in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Taj Bradley has Second Straight Dominant Start on Tuesday
Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley had a dominant showing in a no-decision in a 3-2 win over the division-rival Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night, allowing two earned runs on three hits while walking three and striking out 10 in six innings of work. The 25-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 is now 9-4 on the season with a career-best 3.65 ERA (3.91 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 139 strikeouts and 49 walks in 120 2/3 innings pitched across his 21 starts in his first full season with the Twins. Bradley allowed five earned runs in five innings in a loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 18 in his first start in the second half of the season, but in his two starts since, he's allowed only three earned runs with six walks and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings against the Royals and Cleveland Guardians. In the midst of his career year, Bradley is now rostered in 80% of Yahoo leagues. It's been nice to see his strikeout rate improve to 27.6%, which is his highest mark since his rookie campaign in Tampa when he threw just 104 2/3 innings.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Joe Ryan Slated to Start on Wednesday After Dealing With Arm Fatigue
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (arm) has had his next start rescheduled to Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals, per Twins beat writer Aaron Gleeman. Ryan was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Athletics, but he was scratched due to "general arm fatigue." While Ryan's arm troubles remain a concern until he has proven he is fully healthy, it appears as though whatever he is dealing with will not require a stint on the injured list. Across 114 1/3 innings (21 starts) this season, the 30-year-old has recorded a 6-6 record with a 3.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 131 strikeouts. Ryan is widely considered to be a potential trade chip at the upcoming deadline, so it behooves Minnesota to make him appear as healthy as possible to interested suitors.
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Source: Aaron Gleeman
Joe Ryan Scratched on Sunday With Arm Fatigue
Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (arm) was scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday on extra rest against the Athletics due to right-arm fatigue, according to Twins reporter Audra Martin. Manager Derek Shelton said the Twins expect Ryan to pitch at some point against the division-rival Kansas City Royals next week in a series that starts on Tuesday, July 28. Minnesota elected to give the 30-year-old two-time All-Star some extra rest after his last start, in which he allowed eight runs on 10 hits (a career-high six home runs) with three strikeouts in only four innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday, but Ryan still isn't ready this weekend. Ryan is still having a fine 2026 season with a 6-6 record, 3.38 ERA (3.42 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with 131 strikeouts and 25 walks in 114 1/3 innings across 21 starts, but he'll be more of a risk in starting fantasy lineups when/if he takes the hill against KC next week. He's struggled in his two starts against the Royals this year, too, posting a 5.40 ERA with two walks and eight K's in 10 innings pitched.
Source: Audra Martin
Source: Audra Martin
Bailey Ober Could be Second-Half Breakout Candidate
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober has turned the page since making his return to the mound in July. Over his last two starts, Ober has allowed eight hits, three earned runs, and struck out 12 batters across 10.1 innings of work. He's scheduled to take the mound against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. The right-hander doesn't offer overpowering velocity, which means his strikeout numbers will probably remain low. He has looked better lately, but he remains a deep league play at the moment. Fantasy managers should wait to see how he does against the Guardians before jumping to the waiver wire.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Yoendrys Gomez Deserves More Waiver Attention as Twins Closer
Right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez has benefited from a move from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Minnesota Twins and has become the Twins' closer, yet somehow he's only rostered in 30% of Yahoo leagues. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler has a 3.43 ERA (4.71 FIP), 1.25 WHIP, a career-high 12 saves, 39 strikeouts, and 21 walks in 44 2/3 innings with the Rays and Twins this year in his fourth year in the big leagues. Gomez has been better since joining Minnesota, though, posting a 1.65 ERA (3.10 FIP), 0.99 WHIP, 11 saves, 26 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 27 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. His 10% walk rate isn't ideal, and he also has a below-average strikeout rate (23.6%) for a high-leverage, late-inning arm, but the opportunity for continued save chances in Minnesota the rest of the 2026 season cannot be ignored by fantasy managers chasing the category. Since the start of June, Gomez has allowed four earned runs with seven walks, 13 strikeouts, a win, nine saves, and one hold.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Joe Ryan Won't Pitch This Weekend for Twins
Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan won't be part of the team's starting rotation for the first series in the second half of the season this weekend against the Chicago Cubs, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. It probably means that Ryan will make his first start of the second half in Monday's series opener against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Ryan tossed a scoreless inning on Tuesday for the American League in their 4-0 shutout of the National League in the Midsummer Classic, so the Twins will give a little extra rest going into the second half. The 30-year-old veteran and two-time All-Star faced Cleveland on the road back on May 9 and pitched well, allowing just one earned run while walking three and striking out five in six innings for a no-decision and quality start. Ryan is having a fantastic year in 2026 in his sixth year with the Twins, going 6-5 with a career-low 2.85 ERA (2.77 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with 128 strikeouts and 25 walks in 110 1/3 innings across his league-high 20 starts. Fantasy managers will want to keep him in their starting lineups next week against the Guardians.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Bailey Ober a Waiver-Wire Target Following Injury Return?
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right flexor strain in late May, but he returned to his team's rotation on July 9 and pitched five innings of one-run ball against the Cleveland Guardians. Across 71 2/3 innings (13 starts) this season, Ober has recorded a 6-3 record with a 4.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts. The 31-year-old's average fastball velocity currently sits at a career-worst 89.0 miles per hour, and he's struck out just 17% of the batters he's faced in 2026. Ober also continues to struggle with the long ball, as he owns a 1.63 HR/9 on the year. However, pitching through arm troubles may help explain Ober's diminished velocity. If he can regain some pop on his fastball now that he's healthy, Ober could pair an improved strikeout rate with his already stellar command (6.3% walk rate). His profile carries some risk, but Ober could be worth targeting on the waiver wire coming out of the All-Star break.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Taj Bradley a Must-Add Following His July Strikeout Surge?
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Taj Bradley finished the first half by holding the Angels to two runs over seven innings Sunday. He is 3-0 in July with a 1.89 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 19 innings, pushing his season line to 9-3 with a 3.59 ERA and 118 strikeouts across 102 2/3 frames. Bradley's cutter and splitter have done the heavy lifting, generating 39.0% and 38.7% whiff rates. The fastball is still getting hit hard, and 15 home runs plus 40 walks leave some blowup risk. That matters less after three straight wins with at least six strikeouts in each. Bradley is now 77% rostered on Yahoo, so he may already be gone in most leagues. Where he remains available, he should be treated as a must-add rather than a streamer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Twins Call Up No. 9 Prospect Kendry Rojas
The Minnesota Twins recalled left-handed pitching prospect Kendry Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday, the team announced. Rojas, the club's No. 9 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will make his return to the big leagues after appearing in six games (two starts) already this year for the Twins. The 23-year-old Cuban southpaw looked good in his six big-league outings, allowing three earned runs on 12 hits with 18 strikeouts, but he did walk 13 batters in 16 1/3 innings pitched. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has produced a 4.24 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and nine walks in 23 1/3 innings pitched in nine outings (three starts) in 2026 on the farm with Single-A Fort Myers and St. Paul. Rojas' raw stuff -- a mid-90s fastball and tight slider -- carries high spin rates, but until he can improve his control, he'll be off the fantasy radar in mixed leagues in 2026. He'll also need to become more of a staple in Minnesota's starting rotation, which is not guaranteed in the second half.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Zebby Matthews Set to Make his Next Start on Friday
Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (foot) will make his next scheduled start on Friday at home against the visiting Los Angeles Angels, per MLB.com. Matthews suffered a laceration on his right foot in his last start on Saturday against the New York Yankees and was pulled early, but he was able to complete his normal between-starts bullpen session this week and is ready to roll for his final outing of the first half of the 2026 season. The 26-year-old former eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Western Carolina University should be considered a strong streaming option on Friday despite coming off a foot injury last weekend. Since allowing a season-high seven earned runs to the Detroit Tigers on June 11, Matthews has gone 2-1 with a 3.28 ERA (4.90 FIP) with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in four starts against the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, and Yankees. In 10 starts (61 innings) this year, he has a 4.43 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 51 K's. Matthews will be facing an Angels team on Friday that leads the majors with 879 strikeouts.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bailey Ober Officially Activated and Starting on Thursday
The Minnesota Twins officially announced that they reinstated right-hander Bailey Ober (elbow) from the 15-day injured list and placed left-hander Connor Prielipp (finger) on the 15-day IL with a left middle-finger blister in a corresponding move. Ober will return to the starting rotation on Thursday to face the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Target Field. He has recovered from a right flexor strain in his elbow that put him on the IL on May 30. The 30-year-old veteran is returning to a 6-3 record, 4.59 ERA (4.98 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 18 walks in 66 2/3 innings across his 12 starts in his sixth year in the big leagues. The Guardians make for a pretty good matchup with an OPS (.677) that ranks 29th in baseball this season, but the soft-tossing Ober still won't be a recommended streamer in his first start back with the Twins. He had a 5.97 ERA (6.08 FIP) with 17 strikeouts and five walks in 28 2/3 frames in his five starts in May and has a career-low 16.4% strikeout rate so far in 2026.
Source: Minnesota Twins
Source: Minnesota Twins
Bailey Ober Expected to be Activated and Start on Thursday
The Athletic's Dan Hayes reports that it sounds as if right-hander Bailey Ober (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. It will be Ober's first start for the Twins since going on the IL in late May with a right flexor strain in his elbow. In his two minor-league rehab starts on the farm, Ober gave up seven runs with six strikeouts and no walks in 8 1/3 total innings. He got up to 76 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he shouldn't be faced with a pitch-count limit in his return to Minnesota's starting rotation this week. The 30-year-old veteran lacks considerable fantasy upside because of his decreased velocity and career 23.2% strikeout rate. In his 66 2/3 innings pitched with the Twins in 2026, Ober has a career-low 16.4% strikeout rate while going 6-3 with a 4.59 ERA (4.98 FIP), 1.21 WHIP, and 46:18 K:BB in 12 starts. In five starts in May, Ober went 3-2 with a rough 5.97 ERA (6.08 FIP), 17 strikeouts, and five walks in 28 2/3 innings. Nobody should be in a rush to scoop him up off the waiver wire or start him on Thursday against Cleveland.
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Source: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
Taj Bradley's Swing-and-Miss Stuff on Display Again on Tuesday
In his second straight outing, Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley reached double-digit strikeouts on Tuesday evening in the Twins' 3-1 win over the division-rival Cleveland Guardians at Target Field. Bradley was very impressive in picking up his eighth win of the year, allowing only an earned run on three hits (one homer) while walking none and striking out 10 in seven innings of work. The 25-year-old former fifth-rounder in 2018 by the Tampa Bay Rays now has 21 strikeouts and three walks while giving up two earned runs in 12 innings in his last two starts against the Guardians and Houston Astros. The only run that Bradley allowed came in the form of a solo homer off the bat of Rhys Hoskins in the second inning. Bradley induced 25 swings and misses on the night, and he now has three double-digit strikeout performances in 2026. He has a 2.25 ERA with 32 punchouts and eight walks in 24 innings with three wins in his last four outings. Bradley will have a tough test to kick off the second half with a matchup against the Chicago Cubs, but his strikeout upside clearly warrants more interest off the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues. Bradley is rostered in just 67% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Bailey Ober Allows Four Runs in Five Innings in Rehab Start
Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (elbow) made his second minor-league rehab start on Saturday with Triple-A St. Paul and allowed four earned runs on six hits while walking none and striking out five in five innings of work against Triple-A Buffalo. The 30-year-old veteran threw 3 1/3 innings with High-A Cedar Rapids in his first rehab start on June 28 as he works his way back from a right-elbow injury. Ober's elbow felt fine after the outing, and he was able to throw 50 of his 76 pitches with the Saints for strikes. It's unclear what his next step is, but the Twins may reinstate him from the 15-day injured list so that he can start this weekend in an excellent matchup against the Los Angeles Angels. The soft-tossing right-hander doesn't have a very high fantasy ceiling because he doesn't induce many swings and misses, especially with a drop in velocity, but he can still be useful as a fantasy streamer in the right matchups. Before going on the IL, Ober was 6-3 for the Twins this year with a 4.59 ERA (4.97 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 46 strikeouts and 18 walks in 66 2/3 innings across his 12 starts. Ober has excellent command of the strike zone, but his strikeout rate in 2026 is down to a career-low 16.4%.
Source: Milb.com
Source: Milb.com
