MINNEAPOLIS – Taj Bradley is entering the All-Star break turning back into the pitcher he was to start the 2026 season.
Over his previous four starts entering Sunday, Bradley owned a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, struck out 32 batters and walked just eight over 24 innings pitched. He built on that success with seven innings of two-run ball off of six hits and two walks while striking out six batters on the way to the Twins' 4-2 victory over the Angels.
But Bradley didn’t get it all done by himself. If it weren’t for some amazing defensive plays from Ryan Kreidler, the game could have turned out much differently for him and the Twins.
Kreidler made not just one, but two crucial plays, catching a line drive off the bat of Angels shortstop Zach Neto to end the fifth. Then, in the sixth, he sparked a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play that prevented Mike Trout from scoring a run from third to make it a one-run game.
On the offensive side, the Twins did the heavy lifting in the third inning, with three straight one-out singles from Luke Keaschall, Kreidler and Trevor Larnach, who had the game-tying RBI. Then, Ryan Jeffers pulled a double down the left-field line, which scored Kreidler and Larnach all the way from first base.
And just for some extra insurance in the eighth, Larnach added a run to the board with his seventh homer of the season.
The Twins' win puts them at 48-49 going into the All-Star break, tied with the Mariners for the third American League Wild Card spot, and three back of the White Sox and Guardians for first in the AL Central.
For an American League that has had a chaotic roller coaster ride throughout the season, the Twins are happy where they are, going into the break well within the playoff race.