Twins reinstate SP Tyler Mahle from 15-day IL

The Twins officially reinstated Tyler Mahle from the 15-day injured list, prior to Mahle’s scheduled start tonight against the White Sox. Left-hander Jovani Moran was optioned to Triple-A to create roster space.

Mahle missed just a little beyond the 15-day minimum, as he was retroactively placed on the IL on Aug. 18 due to inflammation his right shoulder. The issue caused Mahle to leave his last start after 2 1/3 innings, but an MRI came back clean, and the Twins even considered only skipping Mahle for a single start in the hopes that he could avoid the injured list altogether. However, the team opted for some caution given that Mahle also missed three weeks in July due to a shoulder strain.

That injury created doubt as to whether or not Mahle would be healthy enough to be traded by the Aug. 2 deadline, but after he returned from the IL, the Reds indeed moved Mahle in exchange for three prospects. Mahle was off to a nice start with Minnesota before his injury, posting a 2.51 ERA over three outings and 14 1/3 innings in a Twins uniform.

Getting Mahle back in pretty short order is a sign of relief for a Twins club that is battling for both the AL Central (one game behind the Guardians) and for a wild card spot (four games behind the Blue Jays). Today’s game has particular import for the Twins, as the White Sox are only two games behind Minnesota in the standings.