Twins right-hander Jake Odorizzi and catcher Alex Avila are returning from the injured list, Dan Hayes of The Athletic was among those to report. The club optioned right-hander Randy Dobnak and infielder Travis Blankenhorn, who will be part of its taxi squad, to clear roster room.
The Twins have gone most of the season without Odorizzi, who didn’t debut until Aug. 8 because of a back strain. Then, after three starts, he returned to the IL on Aug. 22 with a chest contusion. So far in 2020, the 30-year-old has only thrown 10 innings and allowed nine earned runs on 14 hits and two walks (nine strikeouts). That isn’t what the Twins or Odorizzi had in mind on the heels of his first All-Star season in 2019, after which he accepted the club’s $17.8MM qualifying offer. Odorizzi could once again have the option of free agency in the winter, but barring an incredible run over the next several weeks, he’ll get there in the wake of a disappointing season.
Odorizzi will take over in the Twins’ rotation for Dobnak, a rookie whose 2020 got off to a tremendous start. But Dobnak’s low velocity and lack of strikeouts have caught up to him recently, as the 25-year-old has allowed at least four earned runs in three of his four outings since Aug. 29. In fairness to Dobnak, however, he has still given the Twins respectable production with a 4.05 ERA/3.97 FIP, 5.21 K/9 against 2.51 BB/9, and a terrific 62.1 percent groundball rate through 46 2/3 innings.
Is this a service time thing? Move him to the pen at least because with those numbers shouldn’t be demoted
Too bad.
Wanted to score more runs off “Randy” before he left town.
I think you may see him in the pen potentially at some point. he just pitched yesterday so better to send him down and have an arm available. he could also use the mental break after 3 of 4 poor outings.
seriously doubt it’s a service time thing for a pitcher with independent league experience. even if it was….makes no difference…not a major league pitcher
@ChiSox_Fan. Don’t think you have room to brag. Giolito has a 9.35 ERA against thr Twins this year. I don’t think he’s scaring any Minnesota fans himself.
@SalaryCapMyth. Twins fans wish they could say the same for Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Nick Madrigal, etc….
@David Barista. Not really sure what point you’re making. Are you trying to say those particular players didn’t do well against Giolito? So what? Apparently that hasn’t kept the Twins from blowing him up.
He has a 3.12 ERA through his first 15 Starts, with a 3.56 FIP. They are sending him down to try and get his head straight im sure, but Im not sure how he’s “not a major league pitcher” and I fail to see how his independent ball experience is relevant.
It’s not a service time thing, it’s an 8.27 ERA his last four starts in the last couple weeks of the season thing.
I’m a fan of Dobnak, but he’s not what this team needs at the moment. Hopefully the Twins FO can package him with other prospects for better pitching in the offseason.
We have the 5th best ERA in baseball
I don’t know why you think that. If he is your 4th or 5th starter then that means your rotation must be in good shape. For a back end member of the rotation he really is pretty good. Back end rotation pitchers usually don’t post the sexiest numbers but his run prevention has still been a tick above average.
Odorizzi seems like a good candidate to be the Braves next OneYear/Make-Good contract.
Now us Braves fans are on the prowl every year for the next 1 year contract AA signs. =}
The Twins starters haven’t stayed around too long this week, pressure and all of the big series. The pen probably needs some fresh arms.
Rode Dobnak just long enough to trade him in fantasy this season. His service is appreciated