The Twins aim to win a three-game series against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday night after winning Game 1 4-2 on Monday. In other news, there are several encouraging injury updates surrounding the team.
RHP Mick Abel to make rehab start Tuesday
According to MLB.com, Abel, who has been on the IL since April 20, will make the second start of his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday and is expected to throw up to 65 pitches. He threw 47 pitches over three scoreless innings for the Saints on Wednesday. His fastball averaged 96.3 mph and reached 97.9 mph.
Abel originally landed on the IL because of right elbow inflammation. He appeared on the verge of returning in early May before lingering soreness in his right triceps led to a cortisone shot and slowed his recovery.
The Athletic's Dan Hayes reported that if Abel's Tuesday outing with the Saints goes well, he could return to the majors on Sunday or Monday with a pitch limit. When Abel, who threw 13 scoreless innings over his last two MLB starts, returns, he will join a rotation that desperately needs reinforcements due to Bailey Ober's injury. Luckily, there's also good news regarding Ober's recovery.
RHP Bailey Ober "hopes to throw off a mound" during road trip
Hayes reported that Ober, who has been sidelined since May 31 due to a right flexor muscle strain, is with the team in Texas and hopes to throw off a mound during the road trip. Ober had a rough outing against the Pirates on May 30, allowing eight runs (seven earned) across 4 2/3 innings, but his injury is likely a major reason for the poor outing. Before that appearance, Ober had posted a 3.92 ERA with a 16.9% strikeout rate, 6.7% walk rate and .217 opponent batting average in 11 starts.
While it's encouraging to hear that Ober hopes to throw during the road trip, he still likely won't be able to return to the majors until next month. When he does, the Twins may roll with a six-man rotation of Ober, Abel, Taj Bradley, Joe Ryan, Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews. Or, one pitcher, likely Matthews or Prielipp, will lose their rotation spot. Of course, another injury could occur, which would make the Twins' rotation decision easy.
Catcher Ryan Jeffers progressing
Huge shoutout to Hayes for all of these injury updates. According to Hayes, Jeffers, who landed on the IL with a broken left hamate bone on May 19, started taking dry swings last week and is participating in catching drills. There's still no timeline for his return.
Jeffers is having a career year, slashing .295/.408/.541 (163 wRC+) over 37 games. A free agent at the conclusion of this year, Jeffers will likely be traded this summer unless the Twins are surprisingly still in the playoff race or extend the catcher, which seems unlikely.
Walker Jenkins' rehab moved to High-A
The Twins moved Jenkins' rehab assignment to High-A Cedar Rapids, according to Hayes. After being sidelined for over a month due to a grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, Jenkins began his minor-league rehab assignment with Low-A Fort Myers on Saturday, going 4-for-5 with a home run and a double. He was supposed to play for Fort Myers on Sunday, but the game was canceled due to inclement weather.
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