Kepler (knee) received a cortisone injection for hip soreness Monday but is still expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul this weekend, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The 31-year-old landed on the shelf due to knee tendinitis in early September but appears to be fully recovered from that injury. It's unclear how or when exactly the hip soreness surfaced for Kepler, but he should still have a chance to return from the injured list for the final homestand of the season next week.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Goes on IL with knee tendinitis
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The Twins placed Kepler on the 10-day injured list Thursday with left patellar tendinitis, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Kepler had missed four straight games and started just three of the last 11 contests because of the nagging knee issue. The Twins have finally opted to put him on the IL, bringing up DaShawn Keirsey as a replacement. Most of the playing time in right field while Kepler is sidelined should go to Matt Wallner.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Out again Thursday
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Kepler (knee) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Tampa Bay.
This will be the fourth straight absence for Kepler, who has been in and out of the lineup lately with lingering left knee soreness. Matt Wallner will cover right field for the Twins on Thursday.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Not in Wednesday's lineup
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Kepler (knee) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Tampa Bay.
Kepler hasn't played since Sunday due to left knee soreness, although he might not have started Wednesday anyway, with the Rays slated to use lefty Tyler Alexander in bulk relief. Matt Wallner will occupy right field for the Twins.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Held out again Tuesday
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Kepler (knee) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Tampa Bay.
Kepler was a late scratch ahead of Monday's 5-4 win due to left knee soreness and will also begin the second game of the series on the bench. He probably would have been out of the lineup even if he were 100 percent, with the Rays starting southpaw Jeffrey Springs. Michael Helman will start in right field for the Twins on Tuesday in what will be his major-league debut.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Late scratch from lineup
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Kepler was scratched from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Rays due to left knee soreness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
It's the same injury which caused Kepler to miss some time last week, and the fact that the Twins are playing on artificial turf at Tropicana Field could have been a factor in the decision. Consider Kepler day-to-day for now. Carlos Santana entered the lineup in Kepler's place, with Matt Wallner shifting to right field.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Returns as fielder
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Kepler (knee) appeared in Friday's win over Toronto as a defensive replacement in right field but did not have a plate appearance.
Kepler wasn't in the lineup due to a sore knee but was able to come off the bench in the ninth inning. He's been held out of the starting nine in three of the last four games including Friday, but it looks like he could return to the lineup Saturday.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Getting knee evaluated
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Kepler is not in Friday's lineup against Toronto due to knee soreness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Kepler has been held out for Minnesota's last two games and three of the last four due to the knee issue. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Friday that the Twins will work out Kepler and see if the 31-year-old can return to action during the weekend series against the Blue Jays. Since the All-Star break, Kepler has slashed .263/.306/.377 with 12 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI across 121 plate appearances.
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Twins' Max Kepler: On bench against RHP
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Toronto.
Despite right-hander Kevin Gausman taking the mound for the Blue Jays on Friday, the lefty-hitting Kepler is absent from the starting nine. Trevor Larnach, Austin Martin and Matt Wallner fill the outfield from left to right.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Not in lineup Wednesday
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Kepler is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus Atlanta.
Kepler returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing two games with left knee soreness, but he'll be back on the bench Wednesday with Atlanta sending lefty Chris Sale to the hill. Matt Wallner will start in right field for the Twins.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Returns to Minnesota lineup
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Kepler (knee) will start in right field and bat sixth in Tuesday's game versus Atlanta.
Kepler missed the previous two contests with some soreness in his left knee, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in this one. The 31-year-old Kepler enters play Tuesday in a 4-for-30 drought at the dish.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Not in lineup Monday
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Kepler (knee) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.
Kepler was a late scratch from the lineup ahead of Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Cardinals with a sore left knee and will miss out on a second straight start. Given that Atlanta is sending a tough lefty in Max Fried to the hill for the series opener, the lefty-hitting Kepler might have been excluded from the lineup even if he wasn't bothered by the knee.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Battling knee issue
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Kepler was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals due to left knee soreness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
It's unclear when exactly Kepler suffered the injury, as he started the previous two games and went 1-for-8 with an RBI and a strikeout. The veteran outfielder should be considered day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener versus Atlanta.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Late scratch Sunday
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Kepler was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals for unspecified reasons.
The 31-year-old was penciled in to start in right field but was pulled from the lineup shortly before first pitch. Kepler is presumably dealing with an injury, though the Twins have yet to make an official announcement. Manuel Margot will replace him in the starting nine and man left field, pushing Matt Wallner to right.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Sitting amid slump
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
The slumping Kepler will hit the bench Wednesday after he went 3-for-22 at the dish while starting in each of the Twins' last six games. Matt Wallner will replace Kepler in right field.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Idle against southpaw
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
The lefty-hitting Kepler will check out of the lineup for the series finale while the Royals send southpaw Cole Ragans to the hill. Kepler had started in right field in each of Minnesota's last 10 contests, going 12-for-39 (.308 average) with a home run and four RBI.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Not in Friday's lineup
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Kepler (head) is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.
Kepler exited Wednesday's contest due to a head injury after he was hit in the helmet on an attempted throw to second base, and he'll be out of the starting nine for at least one game. Matt Wallner will receive a start in right field against Chicago right-hander Davis Martin on Friday.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Leaves with head injury
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Kepler was removed in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Mets due to a head injury, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run before leaving the game.
Kepler suffered the injury during his plate appearance in the fourth inning, when he was hit in the helmet by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez's attempted throw to second base. He was ruled out for interference on the throw, but Kepler was back in right field for the bottom of the fourth. Either Kepler wasn't quite feeling 100 percent or the Twins wanted to check in for concussion symptoms as a precaution, as Manuel Margot came off the bench to replace him in the outfield an inning later. Consider Kepler day-to-day heading into the Twins' next game Friday versus the White Sox.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Sitting against southpaw
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Kepler is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
As per usual, Kepler will take a seat with Minnesota facing a left-handed pitcher in Sean Manaea. Manuel Margot will bat leadoff and fill right field Tuesday.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Idle vs. lefty Saturday
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Kepler is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers, per MLB.com.
With the Tigers sending southpaw Tarik Skubal to the mound, the lefty-hitting Kepler will begin the contest on the bench. Kepler went 1-for-5 with a run scored in Friday's 9-3 win over Detroit. Manuel Margot will start in right field Saturday and bat in the leadoff spot.
