Twins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco has left the team and returned to Minneapolis to undergo an MRI on his right elbow, manager Paul Molitor told reporters Thursday.
Molitor said Nolasco felt "a little spike" on a pitch to Tigers catcher Alex Avila in the fourth inning during his season debut Wednesday. He stayed in to pitch to two more batters before exiting the game. Molitor added it's too early to tell if Nolasco won't make his next scheduled start Monday against the Royals.
Molitor said Nolasco's elbow was fine all spring. He also said it's too early to tell if this injury is related to the flexor strain he suffered last season, which forced him to miss five weeks.
Although Molitor gave no indication on what the team might do if Nolasco is sidelined, two options to potentially replace Nolasco could be prospects Trevor May and Alex Meyer, who are both on the 40-man roster and at Triple-A Rochester.