The Minnesota Twins have received brutal news regarding one of its best starting pitchers.
Former All-Star Pablo Lopez sustained a Grade 2 right shoulder strain on Tuesday during his start against the Athletics. He is expected to miss 8 to 12 weeks, per ESPN.
The Twins said on Wednesday night that Lopez strained the teres major muscle in his right shoulder, forcing him to be pulled during his warmup pitches before the sixth inning.
Lopez threw one pitch before he motioned for the trainers and he was removed from the game.
Lopez pitched five innings and gave up two runs on four hits, striking out four batters and walking three prior to his exit.
Lopez said after the game that he felt soreness in the bottom of the fifth inning.
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“I tried to stay loose – we had a long inning,” Lopez explained. “Then I went out there and made my three warmup pitches (before the sixth) low-to-mid intensity, and I felt the same thing. If it felt that way, then if I try to make a max-effort throw to get the inning started, you wonder what could happen.”
Lopez, 29, was having an excellent season prior to his injury. He is 5-3 with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 11 starts.
Lopez could have been a trade target at the trade deadline if the Twins fell out of playoff contention.
Minnesota is currently 34-27, six games behind the Detroit Tigers for first place in the American League Central but hold the first AL wild card spot.
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