CLEVELAND (AP) — The pause button has been pressed on Twins right-hander Taj Bradley’s comeback season.

Bradley was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with right pectoral inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday. He had an MRI in Minneapolis that revealed no significant damage and is slated to consult with Dr. Keith Meister.

“Any time we get an MRI that comes back clean, that’s the best-case scenario,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said before a 2-1, 11-inning victory over the Cleveland Guardians. “Once we get through the second opinion, we can start a course of action.”

Bradley has been the anchor of the staff, posting a 4-1 record and 2.87 ERA in eight starts in his first full year with Minnesota. Once a top prospect with the Rays, the three-year veteran also leads the team with 52 strikeouts and 47 innings.

Minnesota now has three-fifths of its rotation on the IL. Pablo López is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and rookie Mick Abel is battling right elbow inflammation.

The Twins acquired Bradley from Tampa Bay in exchange for Griffin Jax on July 31, limiting him to six starts over the final two months of the season. He stumbled to a 6-8 record and 5.05 ERA between the clubs.

Right-hander Travis Adams was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to replace Bradley, who was scheduled to pitch the series finale Sunday in Cleveland. Instead, Minnesota will go with right-handed reliever Andrew Morris in a bullpen game.

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CLEVELAND (AP) — Byron Buxton doubled off the wall in left-center with one out in the 11th inning, scoring automatic runner Matt Wallner, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 on Saturday night.

Buxton also drove in Minnesota’s first run and had its only other hit, belting his 22nd career leadoff homer on the third pitch of the game from Tanner Bibee. The Twins and Guardians each finished with two hits.

Cleveland loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and 10th, but Eric Orze (1-1) worked his way out of both jams in his 1 2/3 innings. Luis García pitched the 11th for his first save.

Rule 5 Draft selection Peyton Pallette (1-2) allowed one unearned run in two innings as AL Central Division leader Cleveland had its three-game winning streak snapped.

Buxton has 13 homers — all in his last 23 games — and is two behind MLB leaders Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox. Minnesota is 20-40 against the Guardians since the start of the 2022 season.

The Guardians tied it at 1-all in the fourth when José Ramírez singled off Joe Ryan, stole second base and scored on Kyle Manzardo’s hit up the middle. Ryan worked six innings, giving up two hits.

Bibee, who has five losses and four no-decisions this season, struck out a season-high nine over six innings.

In the sixth, Bibee collided with catcher Austin Hedges when both were attempting to grab a popup by Brooks Lee. Hedges dropped the ball, Bibee was charged with the error and Lee ran to second base, but was stranded there.

The first pitch was delayed by 2 hours and 6 minutes because of heavy thunderstorms.

Up next

Guardians RHP Gavin Williams (5-2, 3.28 ERA) pitches the three-game series finale against Twins RHP Andrew Morris (1-1, 4.96).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb