The Minnesota Twins are dealing with some significant injuries to the pitching staff and have started to mine their Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul for some help.
The team announced Tuesday that they have recalled right-handed pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson. He will now make the start Tuesday night as the Twins open a three-game series against Texas at Target Field.
Woods Richardson went 2-0 with a 4.24 ERA (17.0 IP, 8 ER), four walks, 19 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP in three starts for the Saints since being optioned from Minnesota on May 15. Earlier this season, he appeared in eight games (7 starts) for the Twins between April 1 and May 14, going 2-2 with a 5.02 ERA (37.2 IP, 21 ER), 14 walks, 35 strikeouts and a 1.54 WHIP in those outings.
To make room for Woods Richardson on the 26-man roster, the Twins optioned right-handed pitcher Travis Adams to St. Paul after Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Adams was recalled on Friday and did not appear in a game.
Last week, the team announced their top starter, Pablo López, was going to be out 8-12 weeks do to a strained shoulder putting what has been a team strength - starting pitching - in some doubt over the next couple of months as they try to hang on to wild card position and keep up with Detroit in the AL Central.
That puts more pressure on the other Twins starters and the bullpen. The team will certainly will miss that López leadership but starter Joe Ryan says they're up to the task.
"We have a really good staff all around," says Ryan. "I think we do a really good job of just communicating throughout the year from spring training on and I think everyone feels pretty comfortable. So I wouldn't say it's like there's one voice all the time that's just kind of like leaving the room. I think that's probably a smart thing to do in this day and age and and how the game's going with injuries and stuff, not having one person to just lean on all the time. I think Pablo's obviously in the dugout here and and adding a lot of value, just being around and I don't really think the role changes a lot."
Sunday, the Twins returned left-handed relief pitcher Danny Coulombe from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day Injured List. But that came with another casualty to the starting staff after pitcher Zebby Matthews was put on the 15-day Injured List with a right shoulder strain (retroactive to June 5).
Matthews, who was recalled by the Twins on May 18, made four starts for the Twins, going 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA (19.0 IP, 11 ER), eight walks and 25 strikeouts. Matthews and the Twins didn't have a timetable for his return, but after an MRI, it is not likely he'd be back this month.
"Kind of felt it after the bullpen in Tampa there, I was able to throw through it in Seattle and Sacramento, but ultimately now, I'm feeling it a little more," Matthews said Sunday. "So I got to take a little time off, but hopefully it's not too long."
Texas Rangers (31-35, fourth in the AL West) vs. Minnesota Twins (35-30, second in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. Pregame 6:00 p.m. on 830 WCCO and the Audacy app (in-market restrictions apply)
PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Tyler Mahle (0-0); Twins: Woods Richardson (2-2)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Twins -124, Rangers +104; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Minnesota Twins host the Texas Rangers on Tuesday to begin a three-game series.
Minnesota has a 35-30 record overall and a 19-10 record in home games. Twins hitters have a collective .387 slugging percentage to rank 10th in the AL.
Texas has an 11-22 record in road games and a 31-35 record overall. The Rangers are 16-2 in games when they scored five or more runs.
The matchup Tuesday is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs.
TOP PERFORMERS: Trevor Larnach has eight doubles, a triple and 10 home runs for the Twins. Willi Castro is 15 for 38 with a double and four home runs over the last 10 games.
Wyatt Langford has eight doubles, 11 home runs and 26 RBIs for the Rangers. Marcus Semien is 15 for 32 with three doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 5-5, .269 batting average, 4.69 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs
Rangers: 4-6, .215 batting average, 2.51 ERA, outscored opponents by 12 runs
INJURIES: Twins: Zebby Matthews: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Pablo Lopez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm), Michael Tonkin: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
Rangers: Jake Latz: day-to-day (hand), Nathan Eovaldi: 15-Day IL (tricep), Joc Pederson: 10-Day IL (hand), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jon Gray: 60-Day IL (wrist), Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (shoulder)