Twins' Odorizzi headed to IL, will miss All-Star Game

Minnesota Twins All-Star pitcher Jake Odorizzi is headed to the injured list due to a blister on his pitching hand, and he will miss the next week's Midsummer Classic in Cleveland. The right-hander left his Tuesday night start against the Athletics in Oakland, Calif., immediately after giving up a grand slam to Chris Herrmann in the fourth inning. The homer gave the A's a 6-3 lead.

Odorizzi (10-4) took the loss in the game, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three-plus innings. It was Odorizzi's shortest outing since he lasted only two-thirds of an inning in a 10-4 loss at Philadelphia on April 5.

After the game, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that Odorizzi will be placed on the injured list with the blister on his middle finger, but expects the pitcher will miss only one start and be ready to go after the All-Star break. "This is also something he has pitched with in his career," Baldelli told reporters, before adding that Odorizzi's ability to pitch through it has varied through his career. "It's a blister, but it's a smaller one ... but in a spot you'd prefer not have to deal with it."

According to multiple reports, the Twins will recall Zack Littell from Triple-A Rochester. The right-hander is 3-2 with one save, a 4.27 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings at Rochester this season. Littell, 23, is 1-0 with a 6.97 ERA in five games with the Twins this season. He is 1-2 with a 6.46 ERA over 30 2/3 innings pitched in the majors, appearing in 13 games and making two starts with Minnesota in 2018 and 2019.

Odorizzi, 29, was named to his first All-Star team earlier this week. His 10 wins are one shy of his career high, and his 2.73 ERA, 1.074 WHIP, 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings and 3.48 strikeout-to-walk ratio are all on pace to be the best of his career. This is his second season in Minnesota after he spent one year in Kansas City and five seasons in Tampa Bay. 

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