Before the news broke that Pablo López will likely undergo Tommy John surgery after tearing his UCL during live batting practice on Monday, he was slated to headline the Minnesota Twins' 2026 starting rotation along with Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober. We didn't know exactly how the final two spots would look, but based on experience, Simeon Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley appeared to have the best odds to claim the roles.
Hopefully, the Twins replace López with a free-agent signing such as Lucas Giolito or Zack Littell. But if they don't, Woods Richardson and Bradley will likely slot in as the No.