Ricky Nolasco is heading to the disabled list.
The Twins’ 32-year-old starting pitcher was placed on the 15-day DL, the team announced Thursday, retroactive to June 1.
Nolasco had to leave Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays in the second inning after experiencing some pain in his right ankle.He appeared to come down awkwardly after a pitch, and tried to throw through it, but was pulled after giving up consecutive hits.
The Pioneer Press reported an MRI showed no structural damage — doctors think it could be related to a bone fragment from a previous injury he suffered back in high school.
He’s 5 and 1 with a 5.51 ERA this season, but had won five straight starts in May.
While that may be a blow to the rotation, it does make things easier from a roster management standpoint.
The Twins had planned to call up Tommy Millone to start Thursday afternoon’s series finale in Boston, but needed to make a roster move to free up a spot.
Putting Nolasco on the DL solves that problem, opening a slot for the 28-year-old Millone to come in.
The lefty was 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA during a brief major league stint in April – but since being sent down to AAA Rochester last month, he’s 4-0 with a 0.70 ERA.
One other move: The Twins returned right-handed pitcher Michael Tonkin to Rochester after he served as the Twins’ 26th man during Wednesday’s doubleheader.
The Twins (31-21) take on starter Steven Wright and the Red Sox (24-30) at 3:05 p.m. Thursday.
