The Minnesota Twins turned their season around with a hot steak in May. On Wednesday, the Twins beat the Athletics 6-1, picking up their third straight win. However, the victory took a backseat to Pablo Lopez’s concerning injury update.

The Twins now know the severity of the starting pitcher’s ailment. The team announced that Lopez was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain of the teres major in his right shoulder, per The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Phil Miller on X. He will miss 8-12 weeks.

The Twins lose ace Pablo Lopez to IL

May 28, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (49) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The news is brutal for the Twins, as Lopez has been special this season. The All-Star righty has posted a 2.82 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 146 ERA+ and 1.3 bWAR in 60.2 innings.

Article Continues Below
More Minnesota Twins News
Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) plays a ground ball off the bat of Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) in the first inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The Twins led 9-4 after four innings.
3 Twins who must be on trade block ahead of 2025 deadlineZachary Howell ·
Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis (23) hits a RBI single against the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning at Target Field.
Twins’ Royce Lewis heads to IL with hamstring strainAlex House ·
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (25) runs off of the field before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Byron Buxton exits Twins-Astros game with apparent injuryJoey Mistretta ·
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober (17) awaits the manager to get pulled from throwing to the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning.
Twins’ Bailey Ober makes admission after struggle vs. RangersJosh Davis ·
Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (25) rounds third base to score on a single hit by first baseman Ty France (13) during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field.
Twins’ Rocco Baldelli gushes about ‘mesmerizing’ Byron Buxton performanceJedd Pagaduan ·
Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) celebrates with pitcher Jorge Alcala (66) after defeating the Cincinnati Reds at Target Field.
Red Sox trade with Twins to boost pitching depthScotty White ·

Lopez has paired with Joe Ryan to form a very effective one-two punch in the rotation. Ryan is having an equally stellar season as the aces have helped turn things around for the Twins. Minnesota got off to a slow start this year. But an incredible 13-game win streak from May 3 – May 17 got the team back on track.

Although the Twins are just 7-6 since the streak ended, they’re now 34-27 on the season following a third straight win against the Athletics. That record would put the team in first place in the AL West. However, in the AL Central the Twins are six games behind the Detroit Tigers, who own the best record in baseball.

Lopez guided the Twins to victory on Tuesday, allowing just two runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five innings. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the game with an injury before the sixth inning. Lopez took the mound, threw one warm up pitch and immediately signaled to the Twins' dugout, asking to come out.

Minnesota gets one more game against the Athletics before having to face competitive baseball teams. The A’s have now lost nine in a row and gone a putrid 1-20 over the last 21 games.