Kepler is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Kepler will be joined on the bench by fellow left-handed hitter Trevor Larnach as the Twins add a pair of right-handed bats (Manuel Margot and Kyle Farmer) to the lineup to counter Diamondbacks southpaw Jordan Montgomery. Expect Kepler to rejoin the starting nine for the Twins' series opener in Seattle on Friday, when right-hander Logan Gilbert is scheduled to take the hill for the Mariners.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Back in starting nine
Rotowire
Kepler (neck) will start in right field and bat cleanup in Tuesday's game in Arizona.
Kepler missed three starts while battling neck spasms, but he's ready to give it a go following Monday's team off day. The veteran outfielder comes into action Tuesday with just a .548 OPS in June, although he has homered twice in his previous five contests.
Kepler (neck) isn't in the Twins' lineup for Sunday's game against Oakland.
Neck spasms will cause Kepler to miss his third game in a row Sunday, though he still doesn't seem to be trending toward a trip to the injured list. Manuel Margot will pick up another start in right field and bat leadoff.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Idle Friday
Rotowire
Kepler (neck) isn't part of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.
Kepler was removed from Thursday's game with neck spasms and isn't expected to hit the injured list, but he'll still be held out of Friday's contest. Instead, Manuel Margot will bat seventh and play right field for Friday's series opener.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Expects to avoid injured list
Rotowire
Kepler said after being removed from Thursday's game against the Rays because of neck spasms that he expects to avoid the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Kepler revealed that he actually felt his neck spasming in the on-deck circle before his first plate appearance and made a decision not to swing the bat, which is why he attempted to bunt twice. He was pulled from the game following a headfirst slide into first base while trying to beat out a bunt. While it's unclear whether Kepler will be ready to play Friday in Oakland, he can be considered day-to-day.
Kepler exited Thursday's game against the Rays because of neck spasms, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Kepler tweaked his neck while sliding into first base when he attempted to bunt for a hit in the first inning. He should be considered day-to-day for now, but the Twins could provide more information on Kepler's status after the game.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Exits game with injury
Rotowire
Kepler was lifted from Thursday's game against the Rays in the first inning with an undisclosed injury, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Kepler was trying to bunt for a hit in his first plate appearance and hurt himself while sliding into first base. It's not clear what injury the outfielder is dealing with, but the Twins should have more on Kepler's status soon.
Kepler (elbow) went 1-for-5 in a win over the A's in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader.
After being hit by a pitch on the elbow Friday, Kepler was held out Saturday and for the first game of Sunday's twin bill. He was back in the lineup for Game 2, however, and appears to be in the clear moving forward. Trade rumors have followed Kepler for several seasons, but he continues to fill a prominent role against right-handed pitching for Minnesota. The 31-year-old remains an above-average offensive contributor thanks in part to the limited exposure to lefties (.261/.323/.426 overall this season).
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Twins' Max Kepler: Out for Game 1 of twin bill
Rotowire
Kepler (elbow) is out of the lineup for the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Athletics.
The Twins are facing southpaw JP Sears in the first game of the day, so the lefty-hitting Kepler might not have been included in the lineup even if he wasn't nursing a sore elbow. Kepler could still be a candidate to start in the nightcap, when the Athletics will send right-hander Joey Estes to the hill.
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Twins' Max Kepler: Nursing injured elbow
Rotowire
Kepler is absent from Saturday's lineup against the Athletics due to a sore elbow, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Kepler was hit by a pitch on the elbow Friday, and according to manager Rocco Baldelli, the outfielder is sore and dealing with some stiffness. Baldelli said that Kepler will probably "need a day or two," but the injury isn't considered to be a long-term concern.
