Minnesota Twins: Ricky Nolasco To DL, Trevor May To Rotation

The Minnesota Twins had a battle for the fifth starter spot in the rotation in spring training. Three guys were aiming for the one spot and just three games into the regular season, all three are in the major league rotation.

Ricky Nolasco had an MRI on Thursday due to some elbow issues after his horrid start on Wednesday. Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press is reporting that the right-handed pitcher will be heading to the disabled list. Trevor May will take Nolasco’s spot in the rotation.

May has not pitched yet in the Triple-A season, but as Berardino points out in his report he was due to pitch for the Rochester Red Wings on Saturday. It is seemingly likely that May will pitch sometime during the series against the Chicago White Sox which will allow the Twins to delay Phil Hughes’ next start until the home opener against the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

The battle for the fifth spot saw Tommy Milone win the job. Next added in was Mike Pelfrey after Ervin Santana was suspended 80 games for performance enhancers and now May is the final member to join after Nolasco’s injury.

May had nine starts with the Twins last season, in a total of ten appearances with the big league club. May went 3-6 with a 7.88 ERA last season.

One of the Twins top prospects is making it to the big leagues, too bad it’s out of necessity than out of the right choice made by the team.

UPDATE: Regarding who will start when and such:

Phil Hughes will start Sunday as planned. Sounds like Trevor May could get the home opener.
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) April 10, 2015

and a Nolasco update:

Ricky Nolasco's MRI was clean, just inflammation, Molitor said. He'll go on DL, hopefully only for 15 days.
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) April 10, 2015

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