MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins right-hander Phil Hughes was placed on the 10-day disabled list Sunday with inflammation of the right biceps tendon, opening the door for right-hander Kyle Gibson to be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to start Monday's series opener against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Hughes lasted just four innings in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Royals in Game 1 of a doubleheader, allowing five runs on six hits, including three homers, to fall to 4-3 with a 5.74 ERA. Hughes, who had season-ending thoracic outlet syndrome to alleviate pressure in his throwing shoulder in July 2016, said the symptoms are similar and got checked out by team doctors Monday. He said it didn't crop up until about the second or third inning of his start against the Royals.
"It's very frustrating," Hughes said. "I thought a lot of this was behind me. To have this sprout up again is frustrating. Hopefully, it's an easy answer and something I can bounce back from."
With Hughes out, Gibson will step in as the club needed a sixth starter after Sunday's doubleheader. Gibson pitched well for Rochester, posting a 2.92 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings in two starts. Adam Wilk was also a candidate, but he threw 3 2/3 innings in the first game of the twin bill.
Gibson made the Twins' Opening Day roster and was 0-4 with an 8.20 ERA before being optioned to Rochester in the beginning of May.
"Kyle had an impressive spring for us," manager Paul Molitor said. "He knew some of the challenges about him trying to get reestablished as far as him performing more consistently. He had to deal with his strike throwing and aggressiveness.
"Now he's got to figure out how to carry that over and try to get big league hitters out. It's an opportunity that has been created for him by postponements and injuries -- and sometimes that's what a guy needs, that opportunity to get back up here -- and I think Kyle is ready to take on the challenge."