In his nine big league seasons coming into 2021, Kyle Gibson had only had two stints on the injured lists.

He had a 10-day stint in 2019 for ulcerative colitis and a 15-day stint in '16 for a right shoulder strain. Now that he is healthy after missing time due to a right groin strain, Gibson is ready to go for his return start on Friday against the Rays.

“You know, I don't remember the last time I was on the injured list,” Gibson said. “Well maybe 2019 for my UC, but it was 10 days. Really short. I don't like not going out there and starting and not being on the mound, so it's something I'm looking forward to for sure.”

Before going down with the groin strain, Gibson was 3-0 with a 2.24 ERA and held hitters to a .193 batting average across 60 1/3 innings.

Gibson said he felt good after throwing a bullpen session on Wednesday and added that the training staff’s rehab program to help him recover from the groin strain has been effective.

“The plan we had going into it was really good and I saw a quick turnaround,” he said. “It's just a really good plan I've been feeling really good.”

Allard moving to a starting role, Yang to bullpen

Woodward announced Thursday that left-hander Kolby Allard will be moving into a starting role in place of Hyeon-Jong Yang.

Allard, who has made 11 appearances this season and one start, has held a 3.38 ERA in 24 innings. The 23-year-old made his first start of the 2021 season on April 27 against the Mariners and went four innings and gave up two runs on two solo home runs.

Since making his first MLB start on May 5, Yang has gone 0-3 in four starts and given up a total of 13 runs in 15 innings.

Woodward said the decision was based more on Allard’s development and the importance in giving the younger arms on the staff starting opportunities.

“We've always kind of looked at him as a potential starter,” Woodward said, “We've talked about putting some of our guys in that role if it comes up and the way that Kolby is throwing the ball right now, we felt like it's a good opportunity for him from a development standpoint getting in the starts.”

Woodward added that Yang will move back into a role in the bullpen where he started out the season and has posted a 3.55 ERA in 12 2/3 innings.

“It's more about what Kolby is doing than what Yang didn't do,” he said. “Yang, we fully expect [him] to pitch quality innings out of the bullpen.”