KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Phil Hughes will pitch a simulated game Wednesday afternoon. Mike Pelfrey will pitch a real one that night.
Their roles might reverse next week.
Hughes will arrive at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday and begin working in ernest toward a return to the mound after back problems that struck during his Aug. 9 start at Cleveland forced him to the disabled list. And though it's too early to tell when Hughes' arm might be stretched out enough to reclaim his spot in the Twins rotation — a question complicated by the lack of rehab options now that minor league regular seasons ended Monday — Twins manager Paul Molitor hinted that when he does, it won't be for Tyler Duffey, his replacement during the injury.
"You can just look where we're at and try to evaluate all the starters in the rotation," Molitor said, "and see where you might have a better option if Hughes is able to pitch."
There's little mystery about who Molitor was talking about, though he didn't mention Pelfrey by name. But the veteran righthander has pitched effectively only occasionally the past two months, and he's 1-7 since June 7. Over Pelfrey's past six starts, he has posted a 6.35 ERA while completing six innings only once; he's failed to get through five innings four times in that span and nine times all season.
Molitor said Pelfrey will make his next start against the Royals on Wednesday, but beyond that, the Twins rotation may be in flux.
After missing a month, Hughes might have required two or more rehab starts if it was earlier in the season. But with only four weeks to play?
"Sometimes you might take a little more risk than you would if it was April and May," Molitor said, "and try to find a way to get him ready to pitch."