MINNEAPOLIS – The Twins’ starting rotation has taken another blow. Right-hander Zebby Matthews has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain.
“We’re taking it day by day,” said Matthews, who is coming off of one of the best starts of his Major League career. “It's not something we’re too concerned with. It seems to be something we can respond to, hopefully, pretty quick. We’re hoping the time on the IL is short lived.”
Matthews has been diagnosed with a moderate strain of the subscapularis (subscap) muscle in the front of his right shoulder. He will not throw at all for at least two weeks. No further timetable for his return has been given.
It’s the second injury to strike the team’s starting rotation in a week. Righty Pablo López was placed on the IL on Wednesday due to a muscle strain in the back of his right shoulder and is expected to miss 8-12 weeks.
Left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe was activated from the injured list to take Matthews’ roster spot, leaving Minnesota with nine relievers and four starters on the roster. It is expected that Simeon Woods Richardson will be recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to take Matthews’ rotation spot.
For the time being, the Twins’ probable starting pitcher for Tuesday’s series opener against Texas is listed as TBA. However, Woods Richardson was scratched from his scheduled start for St. Paul on Sunday. He began the season in the Twins’ rotation before being optioned in May, with Matthews taking his spot.
Matthews said he had been feeling some discomfort for more than a week, but that it had been manageable until after his most recent start against the Athletics. He was shelved after receiving an MRI exam on Saturday.
“It wasn’t a complete shock to us despite the fact it’s disappointing,” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “We knew that this was something that he was dealing with going back to his start in Oakland. It’s something we were prepared for and we’ve been thinking about.”