Reyes lands on DL; lefty Miller is called up

Emergency repairs to the Twins bullpen continued Thursday when lefthander Dennys Reyes was placed on the 15-day disabled list and replaced by Jason Miller, a left-handed reliever for Class AAA Rochester.

By La Velle E. Neal III, Star Tribune

Last update: May 24, 2007 - 9:41 PM

Reyes, who has battled shoulder tendinitis for several weeks, admitted to more discomfort after pitching Sunday. The move was made retroactive to Monday, so Reyes, 0-1 with a 6.57 ERA, is eligible to be activated June 5.

Miller is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA after giving up a home run on Thursday in an extra-inning loss to Durham.

"There's always a need for lefthanders," Miller, 24, told the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle. "This organization has been great to me."

While Reyes should be ready to pitch when his time on the DL is up, the Twins will wait on lefthander Glen Perkins. A magnetic resonance imaging exam was performed on Perkins' left shoulder Thursday, which backed up what Rangers team physician Keith Meister found: a strain of the teres major muscle.

Perkins will miss at least two weeks, with the emphasis on at least.

"We really dodged a bullet," Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "It really could have been a lot worse."

Bartlett is OK

Ryan said shortstop Jason Bartlett's sore right shoulder will not force him to the disabled list, so it looks as if Alexi Casilla will remain in Rochester for now. Bartlett didn't play in the three-game series at Texas.

"We need to do a little maintenance on his shoulder but nothing where we need to have to worry about a DL move," Ryan said.

Waiting on Mauer

Ryan had no news on catcher Joe Mauer's possible return from a strained left quadriceps suffered nearly three weeks ago. Mauer's fitness will be tested before tonight's game against Toronto.

"I'm not going to do anything until they tell me he's ready," Ryan said.

La Velle E. Neal III • lneal@startribune.com