CHICAGO – Righthander Michael Pineda, who has not pitched for the Twins since June 13 because of elbow inflammation, is set to make a rehabilitation start on Thursday for Class AAA St. Paul.
That puts Pineda, 3-4 with a 3.70 ERA, in line to return to the Twins rotation early next week when they play host to the White Sox in a three-game series.
"It's an important outing for Mike," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "We're very pleased with where he's at physically. This will be a great time for him to go out there and throw some pitches, log some innings and get himself ready so he can get that good, full outing that we're always looking for and that Mike usually gives us."
It's a significant development for the Twins, whose rotation has taken hits with injuries to Pineda, Kenta Maeda, Randy Dobnak and Matt Shoemaker being demoted to the bullpen.
Pineda was largely effective for the Twins until his past three starts, during which he posted a 7.94 ERA. But the Twins need his veteran savvy in the rotation.
Garver update
Catcher Mitch Garver is starting to move around as he recovers from groin surgery, but don't expect him to return to the lineup and start hammering pitches into the seats anytime soon.
Baldelli said the club will continue to move deliberately slowly with Garver, and suggested his season won't resume until after the All-Star break.
"Some of what Garv is dealing with right now does go beyond baseball and being a baseball injury," Baldelli said. "Some of this is stuff that we do need to make sure for his quality of life going forward and his general health, we do need to make sure that he is completely healed up before we start any strenuous baseball activity and that was just re-emphasized when he saw the doctor this week."
