Twins manager Paul Molitor isn't expected injured third baseman Miguel Sano back in the twins lineup before the end of the regula season.

Sano is back in the Twin Cities to continue his much-longer-than-expected recovery from a stress reaction in his left shin. The plan remains the same. He will undergo treatment on the injury while trying to mix in baseball-related activities.

Molitor reiterated that time is running out for Sano to appear in a game before the end of the regular season. But there are no plans to shut him down if he can't. Anything can happen in the postseason, and Sano could be an option if the Twins can make the wild-card round — then survive it.

"I think the right thing to do is just stay the course," Molitor said. "Without being flippant, there's no certainty on how long we might play. So I think he's just gotta keep trying to do his work every day and see when something might change.

"I don't think there's a very high percentage chance that we will see him before that last game against the Tigers [Oct. 1]. But he's got to keep working like he has a chance."