As the July 31 trade deadline nears, it has become increasingly more likely the Twins will be sellers instead of buyers. However, good news regarding the injury statuses of these three players could help the team get back into postseason contention before it’s too late.
Royce Lewis likely to return from IL Tuesday; Twins DFA Jonah Bride
Nothing is official, but there is a good chance Lewis will return from the injured list when the Twins begin a three-game series on the road against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. Lewis played seven innings at third base and went 0-for-3 in the third game of his rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday. While serving as the designated hitter, Lewis went 0-for-3 in Game 1 of his rehab assignment and went 0-for-2 with a walk in Game 2.
The Twins DFA’d Jonah Bride following their 3-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, so there is an open 26-man roster spot. Since Lewis played defense Sunday, Minnesota likely has plans to bring him back to the major league roster Tuesday. The Saints are off on Monday and then begin a road trip on Tuesday, while the Twins are off on Monday before starting their series against Miami on Tuesday.
Zebby Matthews makes progress
Matthews threw off a mound Sunday for the first time since suffering a right shoulder strain that landed him on the injured list on June 8, according to MLB’s Matthew Leach.
Leach said a club representative said “everything went well” when Matthews threw Sunday, and he will likely need to throw a few more times before beginning a rehab assignment. Given the Twins starting rotation’s recent struggles, Matthews returning soon could potentially be a huge, much-needed boost for the team.
Luke Keaschall active but not cleared for batting practice
Keaschall has been hitting off a tee and participating in other baseball activities while recovering from a broken bone in his right forearm. However, he has yet to be cleared to take batting practice, according to Leach. Keaschall will undergo an X-ray around Friday this week, which will determine whether he can begin taking batting practice.