Max Kepler may have played his last game with the Twins

Kepler hopes to play at least five more years, he said, but admittedly has considered that his hip injury could end his career with the Twins.

“I haven't really relaxed and looked back on every moment as a twin yet, but I'm really grateful and it doesn't really bother me. [me] too much on my way out,” he said. “Of course I want to finish with a higher score, but when you add in the years in the minor leagues, 15 years of my life – half my life as a Twin – I don't think I could have done much more as a kid from Berlin.”

Chris Paddack Simulated pitching from the bullpen on Monday at Target Field. Sitting in the bullpen, running onto the field and taking the ball with just over a minute to warm up on the mound.

After the duel with the batsmen Kepler, Michael Helman And Austin Martin – for the first time since being placed on the injured list in July, he plans to throw again on Thursday.

“Hopefully everything will go well, then I will probably Rocco [Baldelli] and staff to see where we stand in the table,” said Paddack. “If we are there, we will win [during] the Baltimore series, then we will probably wait until the first series in the playoffs. If we have a game [back]or if it's a draw and we need a win on Sunday, all teams will probably be on board and they will make the decision when the time comes.”