Bradley allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Sunday.
Bradley rebounded fairly well after three straight starts in which he failed to complete five frames. He still gave up four runs, with a pair of homers accounting for three of those runs on his line Sunday. Bradley has taken a step back after starting the season in great form, but this effort could help him turn things around a bit. He's at a 4.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 80:30 K:BB over 71.2 innings across 13 starts this season. His next start is tentatively scheduled to be on the road in Arizona.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Hit hard in Detroit
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Bradley (5-3) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up five runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over 4.1 innings as the Twins fell 10-4 to the Tigers. He struck out three.
The ball was flying out of Comerica Park as the two teams combined for eight homers, and Bradley took his share of the damage as he served up long balls to Dillon Dingler in the first inning, Riley Greene in the second and Kerry Carpenter in the fifth. It marks the first time since April 24 that the right-hander has been taken deep multiple times in a game, but Bradley's been struggling since returning from a pectoral strain in late May, posting a 7.00 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 21:12 K:BB over his last four starts and 18 innings. He'll try to regain his early-season form in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Cardinals.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Stumbles against ChiSox
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Bradley (5-2) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on seven hits and five walks over 4.2 innings as the Twins fell 8-0 to the White Sox. He struck out five.
The right-hander managed to get 63 of his 104 pitches into the strike zone, but Bradley's five free passes tied his career-worst mark, which he set as a rookie with the Rays in September 2023. Since coming off the IL on May 23, Bradley has stumbled to a 5.93 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 18:13 K:BB over 13.2 innings, suggesting he may not be 100 percent recovered from the pectoral issue. Prior to the injury, he had a 2.87 ERA and 1.19 WHIP through his first eight starts of the campaign.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Escapes Pittsburgh with no-decision
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Bradley didn't factor into the decision Friday as the Twins were downed 6-5 by the Pirates, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.
The Bucs ambushed Bradley for three runs in the bottom of the first inning, including a solo shot by Oneil Cruz, but the right-hander was able to hang around long enough to give the Twins 87 pitches (51 strikes) before getting the hook. Bradley has issued multiple free passes in seven straight starts dating back to April 12, posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 43:17 K:BB in 39.1 innings during that span. He'll look to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Royals.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Impressive in return
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Bradley (5-1) earned the win Saturday against the Red Sox, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
Making his first start since coming off the injured list, Bradley picked up right where he left off before going down with right pectoral inflammation. The 25-year-old right-hander has now tossed at least five innings while yielding two runs or fewer seven times among his nine starts, and Saturday marked his third straight outing with at least seven strikeouts. Bradley will carry an outstanding 2.77 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 59:19 K:BB over 52 frames into his next scheduled matchup with the division-rival White Sox in Chicago.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Could rejoin rotation Saturday
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Bradley (pectoral) could rejoin the Twins' rotation as soon as Saturday in Boston, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.
Coming back from right pectoral inflammation, Bradley threw around 65 pitches Sunday between a rehab start and a post-start bullpen session. He threw off the mound again Wednesday, and if he recovers well he might slot back into the rotation Saturday. Bradley was excellent before getting hurt, holding a 2.87 ERA and 52:17 K:BB over 47 innings covering eight starts. If Bradley does start Saturday, he would be somewhat limited from a workload perspective.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Headed to injured list
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The Twins placed Bradley on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right pectoral inflammation, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Bradley allowed two earned runs while making it through six innings during his last outing against the Nationals on Tuesday, but he appears to have come away from his appearance with a pectoral injury. He'll be eligible to return from the IL ahead of the Twins' series opener against Boston on May 22, though it remains unknown whether the right-hander will be ready by then. Travis Adams was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to provide extra bullpen depth, but another move will likely be required before Bradley's spot in the rotation comes up Sunday.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Grabs fourth win Tuesday
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Bradley (4-1) earned the win Tuesday against the Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings.
Bradley had to battle early, needing 51 pitches just to get through the first two innings, but he settled in nicely afterward and dominated for long stretches. He retired 11 straight batters before Daylen Lile broke the run with a two-out double in the fifth inning. Bradley continues to provide reliable production, now allowing two or fewer runs in seven of his eight starts this season. The right-hander owns a 2.87 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 52:17 K:BB across 47 innings and is slated to face Cleveland in his next outing.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Shines in scoreless outing
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Bradley (1-0) earned the win Thursday against the Royals, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out three over six scoreless innings.
Bradley worked through a few early threats but managed to keep Kansas City off the board, showcasing his ability to pitch out of trouble. The right-hander's biggest moment came in the third inning, when he rebounded from a dropped foul popup by striking out Bobby Witt with a 100 mph fastball -- the hardest pitch thrown by a Twins starter in the pitch-tracking era -- to escape the jam. The 25-year-old righty was also efficient enough to reach the six-inning mark, tossing 65 of 100 pitches for strikes. Coming off a season in which he posted a 5.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 127 strikeouts over 142.2 innings, Bradley is off to a red-hot start to 2026 and continues to justify Minnesota's decision to acquire him from Tampa Bay at last year's trade deadline.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Strikes out nine over 4.1 innings
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Bradley allowed one run on three hits and three walks across 4.1 innings in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Orioles. He struck out nine.
Bradley won a spot in the Twins' rotation during spring training and continued racking up the strikeouts against Baltimore. His fastball remained up compared to 2025, as he averaged 97.4 mph in Saturday's outing compared to 96.2 mph from a season ago. However, walks remain an issue, contributing to Bradley being unable to get deep enough into the game to pick up the win. Bradley's next start should line up for Friday's home opener against his former team, the Rays.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Likely rotation candidate
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Bradley has a good chance of winning a rotation spot for the Twins, Matthew Leach of MLB.com surmises.
Bradley might have had an inside track at winning a job battle even before Pablo Lopez's elbow injury, but with three starting spots now open, the likelihood is even higher. Bradley is pitching in the World Baseball Classic, so some of his reps will be away from manager Derek Shelton's direct observations.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Fans nine in six impressive frames
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Bradley didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out nine.
In what was his final scheduled appearance of the season, Bradley saved his best start since joining Minnesota for last. The nine strikeouts were his most since he fanned 10 during his June 1 outing in Houston as a member of the Rays, and Wednesday was the first time since July 18 that the right-hander fired at least six innings while conceding one run or zero. Bradley still struggled as a whole since landing with the Twins, turning in a 6.61 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 32:12 K:BB across 31.1 innings, so he may have to fight for a rotation spot next spring.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Rebounds with one-hit effort
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Bradley didn't factor into the decision against the Padres on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks while striking out six over five innings.
Bradley's second start with the Twins went remarkably better than his first, when he was tagged for seven earned runs in a loss to the White Sox. On Saturday, the right-hander allowed just one hit, a solo homer to Elias Diaz in the fifth, while striking out six. The effort served as an encouraging rebound and showed the potential swing-and-miss stuff Minnesota hoped to add when acquiring him at the trade deadline. Bradley will carry a 4.28 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 102:48 K:BB into his next scheduled start against the Royals, a favorable matchup given Kansas City's struggles against right-handers.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Set to start Saturday
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Bradley will start Saturday's game against the Padres in Minnesota, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Minnesota called up both Mick Abel and Taj Bradley from Triple-A St. Paul last week to make starts, but only Bradley will make a second turn through the rotation, as Abel was moved to the bullpen after the Twins got another starter in Simeon Woods Richardson back from the injured list earlier this week. Bradley struggled mightily in his Twins debut this past Sunday, surrendering seven earned runs on nine hits and one walk over five innings. Even with an improved showing against the Padres, Bradley may not be guaranteed any additional starts with the Twins. Pablo Lopez (shoulder) appears on track to return from the 60-day injured list and rejoin the big-league rotation next week, which could result in Bradley being bumped to the bullpen or sent back to Triple-A.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Called up to start Sunday
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The Twins recalled Bradley from Triple-A St. Paul ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the White Sox in Chicago.
Bradley will be making his Twins debut Sunday, three and a half weeks after he was acquired from the Rays. The 24-year-old righty has made three starts for St. Paul, turning in a bloated 7.53 ERA and 1.63 WHIP but a more promising 18:2 K:BB in 14.1 innings. Bradley has shown the ability to make bats miss at a prolific clip over parts of three seasons in the majors, though he took a big step back in that regard during his time with the Rays in 2025, with his strikeout rate dropping to a career-low 20.2 percent in 21 big-league starts.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Could make team debut this weekend
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Bradley could be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Sunday's game against the White Sox, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The Twins have yet to name starters for Saturday or Sunday, and it's possible those slots will be filled by Bradley and/or Mick Abel, both of whom Minnesota acquired ahead of the trade deadline. Since his acquisition, Bradley has pitched exclusively at St. Paul, with whom he's posted a 7.53 ERA but an 18:2 K:BB over his 14.1 innings. Before being traded away by Tampa Bay, Bradley submitted a 4.61 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 111.1 innings.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Looks sharp in Triple-A
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Bradley gave up one run over six innings with four strikeouts and no walks Wednesday for Triple-A St. Paul.
It was Bradley's first start in the Twins organization after he was acquired for Griffin Jax last Thursday. Despite trading for him, the Twins say they want to keep Bradley in the minors to work on some of his pitches. He'll likely be called up at some point this season, but it sounds like he'll make at least another start or two at Triple-A.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Staying at Triple-A
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Bradley will stay at Triple-A St. Paul after he was acquired from the Rays, as the Twins want him to continue to work on tweaking his pitches, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The Twins don't have a clear fifth starter at the moment, so it's possible Bradley is called up to start Tuesday at Detroit. However, the Twins so far are saying he'll stay in the minors.
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Twins' Taj Bradley: Traded to Twins
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Bradley was traded from the Rays to the Twins on Thursday in exchange for Griffin Jax, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The Twins traded all their high-leverage relievers and targeted controllable starting pitching in the form of Bradley, who had been working in the Rays' Triple-A rotation. Bradley, 24, had a 4.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 95:44 K:BB in 111.1 innings with the big club this season before being demoted just after the All-Star break.
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Rays' Taj Bradley: Officially optioned back to minors
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The Rays optioned Bradley to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Bradley has really struggled with consistency this season, most recently following up six shutout innings against the Orioles in his first start of the second half with a dud versus the White Sox on Wednesday, when he yielded four runs over just 1.2 frames. Overall, Bradley holds a 4.61 ERA across 21 starts, and his strikeout rate has dropped all the way to 20.2 percent. He'll try to get back on track at Durham and could receive another opportunity later this season. Joe Boyle is the likeliest option to take Bradley's spot in the Rays' rotation.
