The Twins announced today they’ve placed right-hander Kyle Gibson on the 10-day injured list with ulcerative colitis. Rookie left-hander Lewis Thorpe is up from Triple-A Rochester in addition to a long list of previously-announced September call-ups.
It’s unexpected and unfortunate news for Gibson, who has continued to look the part of a solid mid-rotation starter for Minnesota this year. Gibson’s 4.58 ERA is almost a run higher than the 3.62 mark he pitched to in 2018, but his peripherals pegged him as a low-4.00’s ERA talent in each season. Gibson’s never been a huge strikeout artist, but his 22% strikeout rate this season is a career-best, as is his 7% walk rate.
There’s no indication yet that Gibson’s condition will affect him long-term, although there’s evidently no hope of an immediate return. With rosters expanding in September, there would have been little harm in keeping Gibson active if the organization believed whatsoever he could return in fewer than ten days.
If the absence were to knock Gibson out for an extended period of time, it’d be a tough blow for player and team alike. The 31 year-old looks like a fringe qualifying offer candidate as he prepares to enter free agency for the first time, so this news could at least give interested suitors pause. Minnesota, meanwhile, is holding a strong (but not insurmountable) 4.5 game advantage in the AL Central. Even if they do hold onto the division title, they’ll need all the pitching they can get as they prepare for a first-round matchup with the Astros or Yankees.
He has been awful this year and I think as a twins fan we all expected him to improve instead of decline. He had a good 2018 but didn’t improve. He fails to throw his fastball yet again
mine as well put Perez there too
I’m amazed he could get through several innings. Fortunately, it’s treatable.
Clearly you have never watched him pitch… if he gets a qualifying offer and we have to pay him 18 mil for another year to watch him throw 70 pitches in three innings while nibbling at the strike zone… I’m out. FIP is not capturing how absolutely frustrating and mediocre he has been over his career, even more so this year.
Couldn’t agree with you more! Gibson’s time in MN has to be finished or Falvey is a complete idiot. Yes, I know he’s been pitching through pain, but have to say at what cost to the team??? His ERA is +7 over his last 5 starts that have lasted a combined 26.33 IP. Thats bad enough, but Gibson has thrown 496 pitches in that span…nearly 100 pitches to barely make it past an average of 5 IP. He needs to get healthy and contribute out of the bullpen for the rest of the season. Some desperate team…a lot out there that need rotation help will throw a $30 mill/ 3-year deal at Gibson. I’m hoping its Kansas City or Detroit so our hitters can MASH him over the next few years.
Why bother with the injured list? It’s september.
But, he’s horrible so we have 10 days Kyle-free.
Thorpe got optioned less than 10 days ago, so he’s only eligible to be recalled if he’s replacing someone that got put on the DL
You really think he could get a QO? 4.58 era? WOW!
Yeah, I think a QO is a stretch. He’s not worth $18mm a year.
Paging Jake Diekman. Do you read? Over.
I was just going to say Kyle should reach out to Jake Diekman & see If he has any advice for him.
A solid shaky five innings starter.
This pun needs no pardon: He has looked like shi-it much of the year, on the mound and physically. lost a lot of weight by the looks
You tend to lose a lot of weight when all you do is NIBBLE batter after batter. He knows his stuff is mediocre so he’s afraid to challenge ANY hitter…9th hole batter included. He reminds me far too much of Kyle Lohse. Time to cut bait and move on.