Hughes to DL, May inserted into rotation

[spinowner]

From Phil Miller at the StarTribune:

 

Phil Hughes said he was healthy after being rocked by the Indians on Sunday, but that didn’t last long. By Tuesday, his back was sore enough to prevent him from throwing in the bullpen. He’ll have a pain-killing shot in his back to treat it, but he’ll be placed on the disabled list while he recovers.

With Hughes out of action at least until Aug. 25, the Twins finally sorted out their pitching schedule, and decided who will face the Indians this weekend: None of the usual guys.

Trevor May, shifted to the bullpen six weeks ago, will return to the starting rotation on Friday, albeit for no more than 50 pitches, and probably will start a game on next week’s road trip, too. On Saturday, Tyler Duffey will return to the majors and be given a chance to improve upon his two-inning debut in Toronto. And Sunday, Tommy Milone, who threw in the bullpen this morning with no problems, will be activated from the disabled list and will start the finale of the six-game homestand.

Hughes said he had nothing but normal aches after his three-inning start at Cleveland, but reported stiffness in his lower back a day later. He tried to throw his regular between-starts bullpen session on Tuesday, but threw only a few pitches. The Twins sent the right-hander for a magnetic resonance imaging test, which found severe inflammation, enough so that Hughes was given a pain-killing shot on Thursday.

It’s the same problem Hughes had occasionally while with the Yankees, and the Twins believe it’s not serious.

May has become a reliable set-up man in the bullpen, and he hasn’t allowed a run in his last eight appearances. May’s ERA is 4.37 this season as a starter and 2.51 as a reliever, but the 25-year-old said, while he didn’t seek the switch back, he welcomes the chance to start again.

May will be limited to 50 pitches on Friday, and perhaps a few more next week when he starts again in Baltimore.

The Twins’ rotation for their three games in New York next week will be Kyle Gibson, Mike Pelfrey and Ervin Santana.

[dougkoebernick]

It's a good thing we have some depth - it will be an interesting test this weekend for some of the younger guys. 

[darin617]

About time they pull their heads out of somewhere(not sure where that could be) and put May back into the rotation. He could turn into the 3rd starter next year if he can continue to show improvements.

You gotta laugh when the Twins traded Revere & Span everyone said Alex Meyer was the superior pitcher. Guess they have been proved wrong.

[deanlambrecht]

Prediction:  Berrios will finally be called up when Santana hits the DL after today's implosion.   Diagnosis?   Bilateral Arm Weakness.

 

(full disclosure - I posted this same pathetic joke at hardballtalk...)

 

I'm very pleased that May is returning to the rotation.   I only wish he were swapping with Mike "Surely Saved Himself Last Night" Pelfrey.   And I sure hope the severe inflammation and DL time off takes care of what ills Hughes. 

[LaBombo]

Alternative headline: Hughes injury forces Twins to use best starting pitcher as starter.

[jimbo92107]

Should be interesting seeing if May's stint in the pen has changed his approach as a starter. Will he try to pick the four corners with his heater now? Will he pitch better from the set?

 

Also should be interesting to see how Extra E does in his second try. Will Duffey pitch better with a bit less adrenaline? Does it help not to pitch against Toronto?

[Kwak]

I am feeling queezy about this upcoming series--winning even one game would be good.  But, that upcoming ten-game road trip?  Yikes!  It had "Danger, Will Robinson" blaring and with flashing red lights.  Things will like get really ugly over the next two weeks with this rotation.  They will need to score 11 or so a game. 

[OldTimeTwinkie]

Someone explain to me why our best AAA prospects gets by-passed again, Berrios, on a call up for someone who got blasted in Toronto.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Someone explain to me why our best AAA prospects gets by-passed again, Berrios, on a call up for someone who got blasted in Toronto.

 

Not on the 40 man and not required to be till end of next year.  Going to cost him an option to stay in AAA after he gets sent back there b/c we went out and bought 3 FA starters.

[spinowner]

 

Someone explain to me why our best AAA prospects gets by-passed again, Berrios, on a call up for someone who got blasted in Toronto.

In addition to the above explanation both May and Duffey had been called up ahead of Berrios. May certainly deserves to be starting, and I think Duffey is entitled to at least one more opportunity. It's not unusual for pitchers to struggle in their first outing, especially against a team that we caught at exactly the wrong time (as their current 11-game winning streak demonstrates).

[SwainZag]

 

In addition to the above explanation both May and Duffey had been called up ahead of Berrios. May certainly deserves to be starting, and I think Duffey is entitled to at least one more opportunity. It's not unusual for pitchers to struggle in their first outing, especially against a team that we caught at exactly the wrong time (as their current 11-game winning streak demonstrates).

 

Agree 100 percent.  The guy has had a really nice and to judge him in his MLB debut against the best offensive lineup on the road is just brutal.  He deserves another shot.  

 

I am actually surprised how more people aren't more exciteda bout the May move.  I have read over 1000 posts about how stupid May not in the rotation is, and it happens and now we argue the other way?  Welcome back Trevor May.  

[Kwak]

A 50 pitch limit for May is about 2-3 innings--the entire bullpen will be run through twice this weekend.  

[spinowner]

 

A 50 pitch limit for May is about 2-3 innings--the entire bullpen will be run through twice this weekend.  

Yeah, it's too bad the Twins didn't have the luxury of stretching him out for a week or two, but let's get him back in the rotation for good. Wonder if the Twins will consider using 6 starters once or twice through the rotation after Hughes comes back.

[zenser]

I am disappointed that Barrios isn't going to get a chance this weekend or even Meyer but running May and Duffy out there is better than Cole Devries and PJ Walters or Deduno.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Not on the 40 man and not required to be till end of next year. Going to cost him an option to stay in AAA after he gets sent back there b/c we went out and bought 3 FA starters.

It would not cost an option if we recalled Berrios again by Sep. 4 (meaning he had fewer than 20 days on optional assignment in 2015).

 

I do think they might be trying to keep him off the 40-man for the winter, which will probably prove unnecessary when we see who they protect/sign.