Abel is poised to begin the season in Minnesota's starting rotation after Zebby Matthews was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Twins have yet to announce their official rotation plans, but Abel has apparently won the battle for the No. 5 spot in the starting unit. The 24-year-old was dominant during spring training with a 1.35 ERA, .075 WHIP and 17:1 K:BB across 13.1 innings. Abel struggled to a 6.23 ERA in 10 appearances between the Phillies and Twins in his first taste of the majors last season, but he could find success if he's able to keep the walks down like he has this spring, as he's had a walk rate of at least nine percent at every professional level.

Abel gave up two earned runs over 3.1 innings with four strikeouts and one walk Friday, ending a ten-inning scoreless streak. He has a 1.35 ERA with a17:1 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings this spring.

EDGE Analysis

Abel is likely competing with Zebby Matthews for the fifth starter role. It was his first speed bump in otherwise stellar spring. A high walk rate (6.5 BB/9 in the majors last season) has been a problem, so his great control this spring is encouraging. He's making a strong case to begin the season in the rotation, but he'll likely be the odd man out since he has minor league options left. Still the competition between him and Matthews will likely come down to the final week of spring training.

Abel threw three scoreless innings with five strikeouts and no walks in his spring debut Monday against Detroit. He reached 97 mph with his fastball during the outing, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Abel is competing for one of three open spots in the Minnesota rotation with Pablo Lopez out for the season after Tommy John surgery. Abel has not lived up to his No. 15 overall draft pick selection in 2020, as before last season he had unimpressive ERAs and troubling walk rates (4.76 ERA the previous two seasons in Triple-A and Double-A with Philly). He did have a 2.20 ERA and 10.4 K/9 at Triple-A in 2025 but struggled with a 6.46 ERA in the majors. A high walk rate (6.5 BB/9 in the majors last season) has been a problem, so it was a good sign he didn't issue any free passes Monday.

Abel was impressive in Tuesday's live batting practice, hitting 96-to-98 mph with his fastball, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. "Abel is one of those guys that, I mean, you guys saw it last year, what he did to the Phillies late in the year," manager Derek Shelton said. "He's got electric stuff."

EDGE Analysis

Abel might be overlooked a little bit in the battle for the now-three open rotation spots for the Twins, but he'll be in the mix along with Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews and David Festa, who is a little behind the rest of the group while returning from a shoulder issue. Abel made two starts for the Twins after the trade from the Phillies, striking out nine in his final start of the season against his former club.

Abel (1-2) earned the win Saturday against the Phillies, allowing three hits and one walk in six scoreless innings. He struck out nine.

EDGE Analysis

Making just his second start since joining Minnesota, Abel delivered his finest outing with his new club against the team that traded him away this past July. The right-hander spun six shutout innings for the first time since his major-league debut back in mid-May, and he tied his season high in strikeouts. Given his prospect pedigree and sparkling season finale, the 2020 first-rounder should be under consideration for a back-end rotation spot for the rebuilding Twins in 2026 but will still likely need to prove himself during spring training. Abel will finish the campaign with a rough 6.23 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 39:16 K:BB over 39 frames.

Abel is scheduled to start Saturday in Philadelphia.

EDGE Analysis

Abel made a four-inning relief appearance after being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul last weekend and will get an opportunity to make a start for the Twins against his former team. The right-hander was knocked around for six runs over three innings versus the White Sox last month in his only start for Minnesota.

The Twins recalled Abel from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

With Pablo Lopez (forearm) on the injured list and set to miss the rest of the season, Abel will come up from the minors to claim the open roster spot. The 24-year-old right-hander has accumulated a 7.76 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in the big leagues between Philadelphia and Minnesota, though he's been dominant at St. Paul to the tune of a 1.85 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 24.1 frames. It's unclear what role the Twins have planned for Abel now that he's in the bigs, but if he takes Lopez's place in the rotation, he'd be in line to start Thursday against the Rangers.

The Twins optioned Abel to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Minnesota didn't immediately replace Abel on the roster ahead of Sunday's 7-2 win over the Padres, so the Twins will have three spots to fill when the active roster expands from 26 to 28 men Monday. Abel's demotion comes after he was moved to the bullpen for this weekend's series against the Padres following a rough start against the White Sox on Aug. 23, when he served up six earned runs across three innings. The right-hander didn't fare any better in his lone relief appearance, as he gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk over one inning in Saturday's 12-3 loss.

Abel is not in Minnesota's immediate plans in the rotation and will be available out of the bullpen this weekend, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Abel was called up from Triple-A and made a start Aug. 23, giving up six runs in three innings. It looks like he'll be skipped his next turn in the rotation with the Twins having several starters coming back from injury. He'll likely get at least another start or two this season as the Twins evaluate him as a candidate for next year's rotation.

Abel (2-3) took the loss against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two across three innings.

EDGE Analysis

Abel was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul ahead Saturday's start, his first in a Twins' uniform since being traded by the Phillies in late July. Abel yielded nine runs in his last two starts with Philadelphia, and that trend continued with his new team as he gave up six runs in the second inning, highlighted by a Colson Montgomery grand slam. Abel now sits at a 6.43 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 28 major-league innings this season. With Pablo Lopez (shoulder), Simeon Woods Richardson (illness) and David Festa (shoulder) still on the IL, Abel is slated to make at least a couple more turns in the Twins' rotation. Things won't get easier for Abel, as he's lined up to take on the Padres at home next weekend.