Twins Place Zebby Matthews on IL Due to Shoulder Strain

The Minnesota Twins are dealing with a tough stretch in their pitching staff. They just made a roster move involving right-handed starter Zebby Matthews and left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe.

Matthews landed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. Coulombe, meanwhile, is coming back from a forearm injury and is expected to help steady the Twins’ bullpen.

Injury Sidelines Zebby Matthews

Zebby Matthews, who joined the Twins’ rotation on May 18, is now out with a right shoulder strain. The team placed him on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Thursday, June 5, 2025.

Matthews is only 25 and was hoping to prove himself in the majors, but this injury will slow that down. In his short time with the Twins this season, he went 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA over four starts.

Those numbers aren’t flashy, but they do show he’s still developing. Over his career with Minnesota, Matthews holds a 2-5 record and a 6.19 ERA in 13 starts.

The Twins probably hoped Matthews could bring some steadiness to a rotation that’s been hit by injuries and fatigue. Now, they’ve got to figure out how to fill that gap.

What This Means for the Twins’ Rotation

The timing of Matthews’ injury isn’t great for the Twins. Manager Rocco Baldelli has to decide how to cover for him and keep the rotation afloat.

Will they call up someone from the minors or look outside the organization for help? There’s no word yet, but the rotation definitely faces some questions as the season moves on.

Danny Coulombe Returns in Relief

On the flip side, the Twins just got a boost to their bullpen. Lefty reliever Danny Coulombe is back after a forearm strain kept him out for a stretch.

Coulombe had a solid rehab outing with Triple-A St. Paul, tossing a clean, scoreless inning. He looks ready to jump back into his role in the majors.

Honestly, Coulombe’s return feels huge. Before his injury, the 33-year-old put up 16 2/3 scoreless innings across 19 relief appearances this season.

He’s been a key piece for Minnesota, shutting down opponents and giving the team a trusted left-handed arm for late-game spots.

Immediate Impact on the Twins’ Bullpen

Coulombe comes back just in time as the Twins get set for Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Minneapolis. The bullpen has done what it can without him, but there’s just something reassuring about having him back out there.

It’s not only about his stats—his confidence on the mound matters, too. That’s something the Twins will lean on as they try to find some consistency during the long season.

The Bigger Picture: The Twins’ Focus on Balance and Depth

For the Twins, these roster moves show a bigger theme at play—balancing depth with player health. As the season moves along, injuries are going to happen, and the team needs to keep its best players available when it matters most.

Losing a young starter like Matthews, even for a couple weeks, stings. The Twins hope Coulombe’s return helps fill that hole, at least a bit.

Key takeaways from this news:

• Zebby Matthews is out for at least 15 days with a right shoulder strain.
• The Twins now have to figure out how to cover a gap in the starting rotation.
• Danny Coulombe’s back, giving the bullpen a steady lefty arm—pretty important with tough teams like the Blue Jays on the schedule.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Twins put Matthews on IL with shoulder strain