With so many what ifs, nothing is certain with the 2024 Minnesota Twins. But of all the what ifs, the one that weighs more than the rest is if Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan keep pitching like they have been, then the Twins won't have to sweat.
If Trevor Richards returns to his form from 2023, he could be a savior in the bullpen. If Carlos Correa's plantar fasciitis doesn't linger, he could be a huge boost upon return from the injured list in the near future. If Caleb Thielbar returns to his 2023 form, he'll be just the late-inning lefty reliever the Twins need. If Jose Miranda hits like he did before the All-Star break, he'll be a star down the stretch.
Other AL contenders did add starting pitcher before Tuesday's trade deadline. Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers went to the Orioles; the Guardians traded for 2023 All-Star Alex Cobb; James Paxton wound up in Boston; Michael Lorenzen landed in Kansas City; and Yusei Kikuchi went to the Astros. Assuming the No. 1 pitcher on each team is ready to go for a Game 1 in the playoffs, it's a battle from top to bottom among American League contenders. Lopez, when on his game, is as good as anyone on this list but it's also hard to put him ahead of Cole, Burnes, Verlander, Castillo and Eovaldi.Ober has been one of baseball's best pitchers since mid-June so he likely projects as Minnesota's No. 2 playoff option, followed by Ryan as the No. 3.
Seattle's George Kirby and Logan Gilbert would give Ober and Ryan a run for their money, as would Houston's Framber Valdez and Yusei Kikuchi.
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