Twins promote RHP Zebby Matthews for start vs. Brewers
The Minnesota Twins recalled right-hander Zebby Matthews from Triple-A St. Paul and inserted him into the rotation for their road game Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 24-year-old Matthews lasted only three innings in a 5-2 loss to the Brewers, giving up four runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked three as the Twins’ 13-game winning streak came to an end.
He closed out last season in the Twins’ rotation and fashioned a 1-4 record with a 6.69 ERA in nine starts. He has produced a 2-1 record with a 1.93 ERA in seven starts for St. Paul, which includes 38 strikeouts and nine walks over 32⅔ innings.
The Twins on Sunday also selected the contract of outfielder Carson McCusker, a 26-year-old who has yet to make his big league debut. The 6-foot-8, 250-pound slugger is hitting .350 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 38 games this season for St. Paul.
The Twins had recorded three straight shutouts entering Sunday’s game, with the pitching staff recording a collective 3.15 ERA that ranks No. 3 in the majors.
Matthews pitched a scoreless first to extend the Twins’ streak to 34 straight shutout innings — the longest streak in Twins history, which began in 1961. They had three longer shutout streaks when they were the Washington Senators, but the most recent of those took place in 1913.
To accommodate Matthews’ arrival, the Twins placed reliever Danny Coulombe (left forearm extensor strain) on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday. Coulombe has yet to allow a run this season in 16⅔ innings.
“It’s obviously not good, but I’m not overly concerned,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Danny hasn’t been available now since the last time he pitched. We’ve been working around him, trying to see if we could give him a little time and get him where he needs to be. He’s shown good improvement, but he’s not ready to pitch quite yet.
“He’s going to need a little bit more. I’m not going to put a timeline on it. I’m not going to say it’s the minimum, but I’m optimistic that it won’t be too long.”
Coulombe becomes the third Twins player to go on the injured list during this weekend series. Shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton both went on the seven-day concussion injured list after they collided while chasing a shallow fly ball Thursday in Baltimore.
To make room for McCusker, the Twins shifted rookie Luke Keaschall to the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Keaschall fractured his right forearm April 25 against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.
