Lopez (shoulder) will make his first rehab start Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.
Lopez began throwing live batting practice last week and appears to have avoided any setbacks in his recovery from a Grade 2 teres major strain, so the Twins will clear the way for him to kick off a rehab assignment. Given that he's been on the shelf with the injury since June 5, he'll likely need an additional rehab start or two after Thursday's outing before being activated from the 60-day injured list.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Ready for live BP
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Lopez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw two innings of live batting practice Friday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Lopez has been on the shelf since June 5 due to a Grade 2 teres major strain, with estimates for his recovery at the time he suffered the injury ranging from 8-to-12 weeks. Though the right-hander has reached a major milestone in his recovery by facing hitters, Lopez will likely require an extended rehab assignment before making his return from the 60-day injured list. Prior to being shut down with the injury, Lopez went 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 61:14 K:BB across 60.2 innings.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Throwing out to 100 feet
Rotowire
Lopez (shoulder) has resumed throwing off flat ground out to 100 feet and is expected to increase his distance to 120 feet during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.
Lopez has been throwing fastballs as well as off-speed pitches during his long-toss sessions, and if his shoulder continues to respond well once he stretches his throwing distance out another 20 feet, he's expected to be cleared for mound work. The right-hander was projected to miss around 8-to-12 weeks when he was placed on the injured list June 11 due to a right teres major strain, and based on where he currently stands in the recovery process, he seems to have a good chance at returning around the short end of that timeline.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Set to throw next week
Rotowire
Lopez (shoulder) will start throwing next week after an MRI showed his inflammation and swelling are "totally gone," Twins head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Lopez was diagnosed June 4 with a Grade 2 teres major strain in his right shoulder and was expected to be out for approximately 8-to-12 weeks. So far all the reports of Lopez's progress have been encouraging, so he could return in the earlier part of that range. However, he still has several hurdles left to clear before a timetable comes into focus.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Moved to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Twins transferred Lopez (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty Joey Wentz, whom the Twins claimed off waivers from the Pirates. The transaction has no bearing on Lopez's timeline for a return, as the right-hander was already expected to miss two months at a minimum after he was diagnosed last week with a Grade 2 right teres major muscle strain.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Falls to Tampa
Rotowire
Lopez (4-3) took the loss Wednesday against the Rays, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.
Lopez got off to a nice start Wednesday, allowing just one hit through his first three scoreless innings. However, things would unravel in the fourth, when Brandon Lowe led off with a home run before Lopez gave up a two-run shot to Junior Caminero later in the frame. It's the first loss since April 30 for the 29-year-old Lopez -- Wednesday marks just the second time this year he's allowed more than three runs in an outing. Overall, Lopez sports a strong 2.75 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 57:11 K:BB through 10 starts (55.2 innings) this season. He's currently lined up for a road matchup with the A's in his next start.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Dominates Brewers in victory
Rotowire
Lopez (4-2) earned the win over Milwaukee on Saturday, allowing two hits and issuing two walks while striking out six batters over six scoreless innings.
Lopez racked up 14 whiffs and didn't allow any extra-base hits to cruise to his third victory over his past five starts. The right-hander finished with his third quality start of the campaign and lowered his season ERA to 2.40. Lopez has struck out at least six batters in each of his past six outings, posting a 41:8 K:BB over 33 innings during that span. He's projected to face the Royals in his next start.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Yields four runs
Rotowire
Lopez did not factor in the decision during Sunday's extra-inning win over the Giants. He allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings.
Lopez gave up one run through three frames before Heliot Ramos took him deep for a two-run shot in the fourth inning. It was the first home run allowed by Lopez since April 2. Lopez threw 55 of 91 pitches for strikes and walked multiple batters for just the second time this season. He's produced only two quality starts in seven appearances this season despite registering a strong 2.77 ERA through 39 innings. Lopez is projected to start in Milwaukee next weekend.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Fans 11 in dominant win
Rotowire
Lopez (3-2) picked up the win against the Orioles on Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out 11 over five innings.
Lopez set the tone in the first inning by striking out the side, which he also did in the third and fifth. His lone blemish came in the fourth frame, when he yielded an RBI double to Ryan Mountcastle. Lopez finished his outing with 18 whiffs on 98 pitches (58 strikes), and his 11 punchouts were his most since June 23, 2024 against the Athletics (14). He has three quality starts this season with a 2.18 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 37:5 K:BB across 33 innings, and he is lined up to face the Giants at home this weekend.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Strikes out six in loss
Rotowire
Lopez (2-2) took the loss against the Guardians on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out six over 6.1 innings. He did not issue a walk.
Lopez was dominant through the first six innings of Wednesday's contest, retiring 14 straight batters in the process. He was lifted in the seventh frame after giving up the first run of the game on a throwing error, and Lopez was tagged with a second run after Bo Naylor belted a three-run homer off Brock Stewart. Despite taking the loss, Lopez recorded his second quality start of the season and sports a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 26:4 K:BB across 28 innings. His next start is slated for next week at home against Baltimore.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Fans six in return
Rotowire
Lopez (2-1) earned the win against the Angels on Friday, giving up two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six batters across five innings.
Friday's start marked Lopez's first time on the mound for the Twins since he strained his right hamstring April 8. He wasn't incredibly efficient, needing 101 pitches to get through five, but he still did enough to qualify for a win in his return from the injured list. RBI singles from Jo Adell in the second inning and Mike Trout in the fifth were all the Halos could manage against Lopez, and the 29-year-old righty departed the game with a comfortable 9-2 lead. He'll look to keep his momentum going during a divisional matchup in Cleveland next week.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Activated ahead of Friday's start
Rotowire
The Twins activated Lopez (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Lopez will make his return to the Twins' rotation Friday against the Angels after missing the past two weeks with a right hamstring strain. He made one rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul this past Saturday, going 4.2 innings and throwing 63 pitches. Lopez hasn't reached the 80-pitch mark since April 2 versus the White Sox, so his workload could be limited Friday.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: On track for weekend return
Rotowire
The Twins are expected to activate Lopez (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list to have him make a start during their weekend series versus the Angels in Minnesota, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Though Lopez is eligible to come off the IL for Thursday's series finale versus the White Sox, the Twins are listing Chris Paddack as their scheduled starter for that day, which implies that Lopez won't be activated until at least Friday. Lopez looked sharp in his lone rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul this past Saturday, covering 4.2 innings and striking out four batters while allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Set for rehab start Saturday
Rotowire
Lopez (hamstring) will make a rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Lopez got through a 31-pitch bullpen session Wednesday without any issues with his right hamstring, clearing the path for him to make a rehab start. It should be the only one he needs before rejoining the Twins' rotation, which can happen as soon as April 24 against the White Sox.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: MRI reveals strain, likely IL bound
Rotowire
Lopez was diagnosed Wednesday with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain and is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Lopez suffered the injury in the fifth inning of his start during Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Royals. He was able to walk off the field under his own power after he was visited on the mound by a team trainer, but follow-up tests revealed that he sustained the hamstring strain, which will force him to miss some time. Zebby Matthews could be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to enter the rotation the next time Lopez's turn comes up Sunday versus the Tigers. Through his first three starts of the season, Lopez has gone 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in 16.2 innings.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Battling hamstring issue
Rotowire
Lopez was removed from his start in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Royals due to right hamstring tightness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. He struck out six and gave up an unearned run on three hits and one walk across 4.2 innings while taking a no-decision.
Lopez walked off the field under his own power after suffering the injury, but the Twins won't know the extent of the issue until he undergoes an MRI on Wednesday. He's tentatively scheduled to make his next start against the Tigers over the weekend, but if Lopez is forced to go on the injured list, Zebby Matthews would likely be in line for a call-up from Triple-A St. Paul to replace him in the rotation.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Exits with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Lopez left his start Tuesday against Kansas City in the fifth inning due to an apparent right leg injury, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
After he was visited on the mound by a trainer, Lopez was able to walk off the field under his own power. Lopez was pitching well before exiting, allowing just one unearned run on three hits and one walk while striking out six over 4.2 innings. The Twins will likely provide an update on his status after the game.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Takes Opening Day loss
Rotowire
Lopez (0-1) gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits and no walks over five innings Thursday in taking the loss against the Cardinals. He struck out three.
Lopez didn't help himself with a key balk and error that led to runs, but manager Rocco Baldelli after the game said he thought the right-hander improved as the game went on. Lopez wasn't sharp this spring with a 6.62 ERA in five starts, and those struggles carried over into his season debut.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Not worried about spring struggles
Rotowire
Lopez gave up four runs with two strikeouts and three walks over three innings in Monday's loss to Philadelphia. "Despite those long, taxing innings, my stuff was still there," Lopez told the Minnesota Star Tribune.
He has a 9.35 ERA this spring with seven walks in eight innings, but does have 10 strikeouts. There's likely little concern for his spring stats as a veteran who is likely working on specific pitches. He's already been named Minnesota's Opening Day starter and is healthy as the regular season approaches.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Falls to O's
Rotowire
Lopez (15-10) took the loss Friday as the Twins were downed 7-2 by the Orioles, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.
The right-hander pitched well, tossing 69 of 111 pitches for strikes in a must-win game for Minnesota, but Lopez served up a two-run homer to Ryan O'Hearn in the second inning, and his offense and bullpen couldn't rise to the occasion. Lopez did what he could to bolster the Twins' postseason hopes down the stretch, posting a 2.93 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 56:13 K:BB in 61.1 innings after the calendar turned to August, but to no avail. The 28-year-old will head into 2025 as one of the foundational pieces for the team's rotation, on a contract that still has three years and $64.5 million left on it.
