Twins dealt another injury blow amid postseason push

The Minnesota Twins may not need to be at their best to seize the third and final American League Wild Card slot, but they will require more from their depleted pitching staff. A team can only rely on its offense for so long. The mound is king during this time of year. When will reinforcements come, though? The cavalry will not include Kendry Rojas, at least not yet. The Triple-A St. Paul Saints placed the promising left-hander on the injured list with an oblique strain, per Aaron Gleeman.

Minnesota (63-66) is looking at its in-house options ahead of September roster expansion, and Rojas was surely one of them after an overall productive first stint with the Twins this season. He tallied a 2.51 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his first 28 2/3 innings before surrendering a three-run homer to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh in an Aug. 2 relief appearance. The 23-year-old Cuban has not pitched for the big-league club since, but he was expected to come up again soon.

His status for the remainder of the 2026 season is now in serious doubt. Minnesota will have to look elsewhere for immediate support.

Twins ace Joe Ryan is inching his way back from a glute strain after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday, but he cannot save this squad’s playoff ambitions all on his own. Manager Derek Shelton has instilled a strong survival sense in the clubhouse, and Minnesota will try to stay away from that dying light in the final five weeks of the regular season.

Trade Deadline addition Dean Kremer will be charged with keeping the Twins afloat on Saturday, as the October hopeful attempts to even up its series versus the San Diego Padres (69-60). The action commences at 8:40 p.m. ET.