Max

Kepler

Kepler’s knee just hasn’t responded the way the Twins hoped, and he’s going to enter free agency off a season in which he hit a modest .253/.302/.380 in 105 games. With his defense also seemingly on the decline, he’ll likely be viewed as a fallback option by most teams.

Just when Kepler’s knee started to feel better, he developed hip soreness. Now he’s officially out until the playoffs if the Twins make it that far. Kepler hit .253 with eight home runs and 42 RBI this year.

If all goes well, he should return during the middle of the week. Edouard Julien is probably first in line to get sent down to make room for him.

It’s unclear when Kepler might return from his injuries, but surely the team would like him back ahead of the playoffs if the Twins get there. Kepler hit .253 with eight home runs and 42 RBI this year.

With Max Kepler (knee) landing on the IL, the Twins will give the 27-year-old Keirsey Jr. a shot on the active roster. He was hitting .292 with 14 homers, 75 RBI, and 69 runs scored in 103 games at Triple-A and will likely serve as a left-handed bat off the bench for the Twins while Kepler is out. If Keirsey Jr. were to get into a game, it would be his MLB debut.

Kepler was not written into today’s lineup, which would have been his fourth missed start in a row, so the Twins made the call to place him on the IL. They don’t seem concerned that he’ll be out for an extended period, but it should mean more regular playing time for Austin Martin, who will play center field when the Twins shift Willi Castro into the infield and give Brooks Lee time off. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was called up to take Kepler’s spot on the active roster.

This is now the fourth straight game that Kepler has missed with knee soreness. The Twins claim it’s not a major injury, but it’s not a great sign that he hasn’t yet gotten into the starting lineup. Austin Martin will start in center field and bat ninth with Matt Wallner sliding over the right field.

Kepler was scratched from Monday’s lineup with knee soreness, and the outfielder will not be able to go — at least to begin Tuesday’s game — a day later. Michael Helman is getting the start in right field, while Austin Martin will be in the other corner.

It’s the same things that’s been troubling Kepler. He’s just 5-for-43 with one extra-base hit and one RBI since Aug. 15. It might make sense to give him 10 days off and see if that gets him closer to 100 percent.

No word yet, but this is probably related to the sore knee he’s been dealing with. Carlos Santana replaced him in the starting lineup. Trevor Larnach moved from the DH spot to the outfield.