Ricky Nolasco to undergo MRI on elbow

Twins' right-hander Ricky Nolasco is flying to Minnesota today to undergo an MRI on his right elbow, according to a major-league source who described the test as "precautionary". Nolasco reportedly felt pain in his elbow in his start on Wednesday night against the Tigers

Nolasco, who was signed to a four-year, $49 million deal by the Twins before last season, surrendered six earned runs in three innings on Wednesday. He struggled mightily for Minnesota last season as well, posting a 6-12 record and 5.38 ERA in 27 starts on the year.

Minnesota was expected to have a stable veteran presence in its rotation with Nolasco, Phil Hughes and Ervin Santana in front of young guns like Kyle Gibson, Trevor May and Alex Meyer. Instead, the team is without Santana for the first half of the season due to a suspension for performance-enhancing drug use, and could lose Nolasco for an extended period of time based on the results of the MRI.

In ten major-league seasons with the Marlins (2006-2013), Dodgers (2013) and Twins (2014-2015), Nolasco is the owner of a lifetime 95-88 record and 4.51 ERA in 257 appearances (240 starts).