Pablo López set to take big step toward returning to Twins rotation this season

Pablo López will show up to the ballpark Friday and work through his usual pre-start routine.

He will play catch and throw long toss with a catcher before moving into the bullpen. He will sit down and take some sips of water until it’s time for him to run out to the Target Field mound and stare down a hitter in the batter’s box.

The only difference this time is López will do it four hours before Friday’s actual first pitch.

López is scheduled to throw two “innings” in a simulated game, a big step for a pitcher who hopes to rejoin the Twins’ rotation as early as the first week of September.

“Hopefully, whoever wants to hit, they go to swing the bat,” López said. “I don’t want statues up there. I don’t want someone to look like a candle. I want someone to actually swing the bat, so I can get the feedback and see how [pitches] are moving.”

López has been out since early June with a strained muscle in his right shoulder. The initial recovery timeline was 8-12 weeks, so he’s remained on schedule.

Despite the Twins falling well out of the playoff picture, along with a massive fire sale at the trade deadline that shipped off 10 major league players, it’s important for López’s offseason if he can return to pitch in a handful of big league games.

López has already thrown five bullpen sessions, including one simulated inning without a batter. Friday, however, will be his first chance to add some adrenaline in a more game-like situation.

“My delivery has been pretty good with repetitions and repeatability,” he said. “Things are going well, but it’s always different when you get a batter in the box. When you get a batter in the box that you know they want to swing, or they can swing, then the adrenaline really kicks in and makes stuff jump better.”

López wasn’t on the Twins’ road trip following their trade deadline, so he’s made it a priority to introduce himself to his new teammates.

The plan, as long as López progresses as expected, is to build up an inning every five or six days like a typical spring training pitching plan.

“Now I’m getting anxious,” López said. “I’ve hit every mark. I’ve hit every milestone on my rehab. I don’t think there’s ways to rush it, but we haven’t had any setbacks or anything, so that’s been a positive.”

“I really like the way things are progressing,” Festa said. “The [training] staff has done a great job laying out a plan for me. Each day feels better and better, so I’m optimistic.”

Festa, who had a 5.40 ERA in 53⅓ innings, threw off a mound Tuesday with light intensity, so he’s at the beginning stages of ramping up his throwing.

“It’s my first time on the IL, so it’s a little weird for me,” he said. “Obviously, I want to be back really badly, especially watching the road games on my TV. It just makes me itch to get back, but I also have to be cautious and smart as well.”

* The Twins signed lefty reliever Génesis Cabrera, 28, to a minor league contract Tuesday, and he reported to Class AAA St. Paul. Cabrera made 24 appearances for three teams this year — the Mets, Cubs and Pirates — while posting a 5.79 ERA across 28 innings with 22 strikeouts and seven walks.

* Twins catcher Christian Vázquez, who went on the 10-day injured list after he was hospitalized with an infection in his left shoulder, briefly visited Target Field on Thursday. There is no timetable on his return.