Ricky Nolasco's status still uncertain after ankle injury

Pitcher Riocky Nolasco's status is another big unknown, but the Twins are optimistic he can avoid going on the disabled list for the second time this season.

A magnetic resonance imaging exam on his right ankle found no soft-tissue damage. What happened, rather, was that a bone in his right ankle made contact with a small fragment left there from a long-ago injury, impinging the tissue around it, like catching your finger in a pair of pliers. It happened only once, but hurt enough that he couldn't push off correctly.

"The trainers feel they have a fairly good chance of getting him back on track rather quickly, and maybe he can avoid the DL," Molitor said. "He's probably going to throw off the rubber on Thursday, and we will evaluate where he's at."

He won't start Friday, but perhaps could pitch Saturday. "We'll see. I'm just going day by day. All I can do is get treatment, and do some core [exercises] to stay mobile," Nolasco said. Can he avoid a trip to the DL? "I don't know," Nolasco said. "I hope so."