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
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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
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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
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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
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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: Throws bullpen session
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Lopez (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The session went off without a hitch and now the Twins will wait to see how Lopez's right hamstring responds Thursday before they determine the next steps. Lopez is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list April 24, and it's possible he's ready to go on that date if he continues to progress.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Sent to 15-day IL
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The Twins placed Lopez (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Friday.
Lopez suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain during Tuesday's start against the Royals and will miss at least a couple weeks. Minnesota recalled David Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday to make the start versus Detroit. Lopez sports a 1-1 record, 1.62 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB across his first 16.2 innings this season.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: MRI reveals strain, likely IL bound
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Twins-Red Sox postponed
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Lopez and the Twins won't face the Red Sox on Saturday, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Saturday's game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday, and Lopez will get the ball to start Game 1, per Helfand. The 28-year-old righty has made a start against the Red Sox once already this season in May, during which he gave up one earned run over six innings while striking out eight batters and collecting a win.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Quality start streak at seven
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Lopez came away with a no-decision in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Guardians, giving up two runs on eight hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander got staked to a 3-0 lead in the third inning and left the mound with the Twins still ahead, but Griffin Jax melted down in the eighth to deny Lopez his 16th win of the year. The quality start was Lopez's 18th of the season and seventh straight, a stretch in which he's posted a 1.35 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 43:8 K:BB through 46.2 innings. He lines up for his next outing this weekend in Boston as Minnesota tries to hang onto a wild-card spot in the American League.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Picks up win No. 15
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Lopez (15-8) earned the win Tuesday against the Angels, allowing four unearned runs on eight hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out 10.
The Minnesota righty picked up his sixth consecutive quality start -- and 17th of the season -- with this dazzling 105-pitch performance. Although he generated only 13 whiffs on the evening, Lopez managed to post his third double-digit strikeout game of the season, marking his first since punching out 14 at Oakland on June 23. After pitching to an unsightly 5.11 ERA across 104 innings in the first half, the 28-year-old has returned to ace form since the All-Star break, firing a 1.92 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 62:12: K:BB over 65.1 innings. He lines up to make his next start against the division-leading Guardians on the road next week.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Streak ends but gets 14th win
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Lopez (14-8) earned the win Thursday against the Rays, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out nine.
Lopez's streak of three straight outings without allowing a run ended Thursday against the Rays, but he still managed to pick up his 14th win, which is tied for the third most in the American League. Lopez's scoreless innings streak ended at 23.1, which is the longest single-season streak by a Twins pitcher since Tyler Duffey in 2019. The 28-year-old has eight quality starts over his last 10 appearances and has a 2.27 ERA in that span.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Extends scoreless streak Friday
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Lopez (13-8) picked up the win Friday, allowing six hits over 7.2 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The right-hander extended his scoreless streak to 20.2 innings with another gem. Lopez has reeled off four straight quality starts, giving him 15 on the season, and since the All-Star break he's delivered a 1.92 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 43:10 K:BB over 51.2 innings. He'll look to give the Twins' playoff hopes another boost in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Tampa Bay.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Secures 11th victory
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Lopez (11-8) earned the win Monday against the Royals, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The Minnesota righty picked up his 12th quality start of the season with this 96-pitch effort. He looked to be in for a rough outing after allowing a solo homer -- his 22nd given up this season -- to Bobby Witt in the opening frame. However, Lopez settled in and generated a solid 15 whiffs en route to his fifth career win against Kansas City. The 28-year-old has been dependable since the All-Star break, going 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB over 31 innings. He is currently slated to face the Rangers on the road for his next start this weekend.
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Twins' Pablo Lopez: Yields four runs in loss
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Lopez (10-8) allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings to take the loss Tuesday versus the Cubs.
Isaac Paredes did all the damage against Lopez, tagging him for a three-run home run in the first inning and an RBI single in the third. This was the first time in five starts Lopez allowed more than two runs, and the two strikeouts matched his season low. The right-hander's ERA is at 4.74 with a 1.16 WHIP and 144:29 K:BB over 129 innings across 23 starts this season. Lopez is projected to make his next start at home versus the Royals.