Minnesota Twins Rotation Takes Another Hit

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Zebby Matthews, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

When the Minnesota Twins started the season, their rotation depth was a major point of optimism. For the first two-plus months of the season, however, they didn’t have to put it to the test. Instead, a healthy Twins rotation has started 2025 as one of the best in baseball.

This week, however, that changed when Pablo Lopez was pulled from his start against the Athletics after just five innings with what was later diagnosed as a Grade 2 Teres Major strain, an injury some in the Minnesota Twins organization think could have been caused by the less-than-ideal minor league field conditions in Sacramento, temporary home of the orphan Athletics.

Zebby Matthews joins Minnesota Twins injured list

And now… it appears Sutter Health Park may have claimed another Twins starter, Zebby Matthews, who pitched Wednesday against the A’s. Just a few days later, he is going on the injured list too.

In Sacramento, Matthews worked five innings of one-run ball. He allowed four hits while walking three and striking out four. At the time, it seemed like a relatively uneventful outing… but apparently it was not.

The shoulder strain means that Zebby is out for at least 15 days, and there’s an increased concern, considering the shoulder issues are not as straightforward as other pitching injuries can be. Just ask Pablo Lopez. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman is reporting Matthews will be shut down for at least two weeks.

“I was able to throw through it in Seattle and Sacramento. But ultimately now, I’m feeling it a little more. I’ll have to take a little time off, but hopefully it’s not too long…It’s not something we’re too concerned with. It seems to be something we can respond to, hopefully, pretty quick.”

Zebby Matthews – The Athletic

The Minnesota Twins just promoted the 25-year-old flamethrower a couple weeks ago, to take over for a struggling Simeon Woods Richardson. He made just four starts (5.21 ERA 3.07 FIP) before landing on IR.

Simeon Woods Richardson call up incoming…?

It stands to reason that Woods Richardson will be recalled, to take over the Twins’ now-vacant rotation spot. In the meantime, left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe is back with the club after a brief rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints. He returns to a 0.00 ERA in 16 2/3 innings across 19 appearances.

It certainly looks like SWR is the choice, and he will need to better. And not just better than he was before being optioned to St. Paul, but also since the demotion. He has posted a very meh 4.24 ERA across 17 innings in three starts for the Saints (19/5 K/BB). The problem is that his five-run blowup start (that included three homers) came in his last time out.

Related: Minnesota Twins Blame A’s Ballpark for Injuring Star Players

The depth that the Minnesota Twins had for the starting rotation is about to be tested to the maximum degree. The two next options would be Marco Raya — who hasn’t looked ready — and Andrew Morris, who isn’t on the 40-man roster.

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