PITTSBURGH – Already fraying, the Twins’ starting pitching depth took another significant hit Sunday, when the club placed right-hander Bailey Ober on the 15-day injured list with what it is calling right elbow inflammation.
Ober first felt tightness during his start on Saturday, which became discomfort after the game. When it wasn’t better on Sunday morning, the Twins moved to put him on the IL. He will undergo an MRI exam on Monday.
“I'm pretty optimistic about it, but we'll wait and see what imaging says,” Ober said. “But overall, I'm not feeling terrible. It feels like there might be some fluid somewhere. Getting checked out tomorrow and hopefully get back at it soon.”
The injury leaves Minnesota with four healthy starting pitchers on the active roster and, perhaps more concerning, no obvious alternatives to summon from the Minor Leagues. A team that came into the year with a slew of rotation options that most teams would envy is now left searching for solutions.
Asked about a possible rotation replacement, manager Derek Shelton expressed what many in the organization are likely thinking at the moment.
“That’s five days from now,” he said, “so right now I’m trying to get through tonight and tomorrow. We’ll figure it out as a group with where we’re going to go.”
Ober, 30, allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 4 2/3 innings on Saturday, though that line was somewhat misleading due to a ball misplayed in the sun that cost him five runs. Still, he was touched for three homers, giving him seven allowed over his last three starts after an excellent start to the season. Ober is 6-3 with a 4.59 ERA on the year. He said he had not felt any issue in the elbow prior to Saturday.
“This was the first time,” he said. “I felt tight during the game, but it was fine for me to keep throwing. I didn't have any pain. Then after I got done, it stiffened up on me.”
Ober becomes the fifth starter or potential starter currently on the injured list for the Twins. Pablo López underwent season-ending elbow surgery in March, and David Festa has yet to pitch in a game as he attempts to recover from a shoulder injury. Mick Abel, the club’s best pitcher in spring, made four appearances (three starts) before hitting the IL with an elbow issue in mid-April. Rookie Kendry Rojas, who has mostly pitched in relief but made one start, was scratched before his scheduled second start and placed on the IL on Friday.
On top of all that, Simeon Woods Richardson, who began the year in the rotation, was designated for assignment on Saturday following a deep slump.
That leaves four starters: ace Joe Ryan; Taj Bradley, who has pitched superbly but is still being built back up after an IL stint of his own; rookie Connor Prielipp, who the club is attempting to manage very carefully due to his extremely limited professional experience, and Zebby Matthews, who was hit hard in Sunday’s 9-3 loss to the Pirates.
“I don't think any of us want to see anybody go down,” Matthews said. “It's always unfortunate news to hear that, but we'll keep battling and pitching and try to win as many as possible.”
Ober dealt with a hip issue for much of 2025, but has never had significant arm troubles in the Major Leagues. In addition to his steady presence on the mound, he’s a well-regarded teammate and stabilizing force who will be missed for as long as he’s out.
Someone will have to take the ball first on Thursday against the White Sox, but it’s not at all clear who that may be at this point. It could well be a bullpen game, though the Twins’ bullpen is as beaten up as the rotation is, thanks to its extensive use in recent days.
“We’ve got seven more [before an off-day], so we’ve got to figure it out,” Shelton said. “And we’ve got Joe [Ryan] going tomorrow. … So we’ve got to keep going.”
In addition to shelving Ober, Minnesota optioned right-handed reliever John Klein to Triple-A St. Paul. To fill the two roster spots, the club selected the contract of right-hander Mike Paredes and recalled right-hander Travis Adams from St. Paul. Paredes made his MLB debut on Sunday, allowing two runs (one earned) over 3 2/3 innings with three strikeouts.