Mahle gave up three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in 4.2 innings during Thursday's spring training loss to Tampa Bay. His spring ERA increased to 5.93. His fastball velocity did increase to a 92.1 to 94.6 mph range, however, from his last spring start when he was in the 89-93 mph range.
Mahle's fastball velocity was noticeably down during his last spring start which was a little concerning, but it doesn't appear to be an issue. Mahle is having a rough spring with 23 hits and three home runs allowed in 13.2 innings, though he also has a 12:5 K:BB ratio. Mahle is a veteran who has a set spot in the rotation, so his stats may not matter as he builds up strength for the season. Most importantly, he looks healthy after an injury-plagued 2022 campaign. Mahle struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in early September.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Velocity regresses Friday
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Mahle gave up three home runs in a row and four runs total in 3.2 innings Friday against the Orioles and his fastball velocity was in the 89-93 mph range after being in the 90-94 mph range in his previous outing. However, Mahle said his shoulder felt fine. "I felt pretty good with where I was at today. I know I gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs, but whatever. I felt pretty good," he told The Athletic.
In Mahle's March 11 start against the Red Sox, he had 13 pitches of 93-94 mph, and he threw just two pitches of 93 mph and zero 94 mph pitches in Friday's outing. It might be nothing, but it's at least mildly concerning that his velocity is trending down. Mahle struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in early September. All the reports on his shoulder have been positive this spring, but monitor his final spring outings.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Looks healthy this spring
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Mahle gave up two runs with four strikeouts in 2.1 innings in Saturday's spring start. Mahle has a 3.38 ERA with six strikeouts and one walk in 5.1 innings so far this spring.
More important than his stats, Mahle has looked healthy after he struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in August. Mahle had similar strikeout rates (9.4 K/9) and walk rates (3.2 B/9) last season in comparison to the past few years, so he could rebound after a disappointing season (4.40 ERA) to become a key part of the Minnesota rotation.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Throws live batting practice
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Mahle (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
It marks his time facing hitters this camp after Mahle missed the final few weeks of last season with a shoulder injury. "I thought he looked strong," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "His camp right now is going to be basically a normal camp for him. He looks really good right now. He's feeling right where he wants to be." Not only is Mahle entering camp healthy, he's also coming in with a new slider after working at Driveline over the winter. The righty holds a 3.95 ERA and 396:128 K:BB over 348.1 innings since the start of the 2020 season.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: No restrictions at camp
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Mahle (shoulder) said Thursday he entered Twins camp with no restrictions, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Mahle battled shoulder troubles in both Cincinnati and Minnesota last season, but he was able to enjoy a fairly normal winter routine and even went to Driveline to work on a new slider. The 28-year-old right-hander is shaping up as a bounceback candidate for 2023 after posting an underwhelming 4.40 ERA and 126:43 K:BB across his 120.2 total innings (23 starts) in 2022.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Settles with Minnesota
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Mahle (shoulder) signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Upon being traded from Cincinnati to Minnesota at the deadline, shoulder troubles kept Mahle from throwing more than 16.1 frames for the Twins. When he was healthy, he logged a disappointing 4.40 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, but did hold a solid 9.40 K/9. If Mahle can bounce back from his shoulder injury, he figures to be a solid piece of the Twins' 2023 rotation.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Officially done for season
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Mahle (shoulder) has been officially ruled out for the year, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Reports from mid-September indicated that it was unlikely Mahle would make it back this year, and that's now been officially confirmed by the team. The Twins' late-season collapse removed any potential incentive for Mahle to rush back, but that may not have been in play regardless of how the team performed. Whether or not his shoulder issues will delay him at the start of next season is not yet clear.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Unlikely to return this season
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Mahle (shoulder) has not stated throwing and a return in September is unlikely, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. "The scenarios that Tyler pitches again in the regular season might be pretty limited right now," said manager Rocco Baldelli said.
Mahle landed on the injured list Aug. 20 due to shoulder fatigue and then lasted just two innings when he returned from the injured list Sept. 3 due to a setback to the same injury. It's possible he could return for the postseason, but Minnesota's slide in the standings makes that a long shot.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Shoulder forces another IL stint
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The Twins placed Mahle on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right shoulder inflammation.
When Mahle was diagnosed with the same injury in August, he was on the shelf for 16 days before he returned to the mound for Saturday's game against the White Sox. Mahle lasted just two innings in his return, however, surrendering four earned runs on five hits to drop to 6-8 in the Twins' 13-0 loss. The fact that he suffered a setback with the injury in his first start back from the IL suggests that Mahle could be inactive for a longer period this time around. Fantasy managers in redraft leagues can likely feel comfortable moving on from Mahle, who won't be in line for more than two or three starts the rest of the way even if he avoids a prolonged absence.
Mahle left Saturday's game against the White Sox with right shoulder inflammation, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Mahle was expected to face a limited workload in his return from the injured list, but he ended up throwing only two innings and 37 pitches. We now know it's because the shoulder is still barking, and it could very well land him right back on the IL, though Mahle should be considered day-to-day and questionable for his next start until the Twins update his status further.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Activated prior to start
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Mahle (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Saturday's start against the White Sox, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Mahle landed on the injured list Aug. 20 but recently threw a bullpen session and a few simulated innings. It seems unlikely that the right-hander will face a significant workload restriction Saturday since he's returning from the injured list just one day after he was first eligible.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Return set for Saturday
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Mahle (shoulder) is listed as the Twins' probable starter for Saturday's game against the White Sox, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old threw a bullpen session and a couple simulated innings Monday and has now been cleared to re-enter Minnesota's rotation, and he'll have spent only one extra day on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation. Given the brevity of the absence, any potential workload limitations for Mahle are unlikely to be significant.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Throws again Monday
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Mahle (shoulder) threw a bullpen session and a couple simulated innings Monday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Mahle tossed a bullpen session Friday without issue, and he was able to do the same a few days later. When asked about his status afterward, Mahle responded, "I'm pretty optimistic that I'll be good the rest of the year." That bodes well both for his chances of being activated from the injured list Friday when first eligible and his fantasy prospects the rest of the way.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Throws bullpen Friday
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Mahle (shoulder) felt good after he threw a bullpen session Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Mahle resumed throwing this week and was cleared for mound work Friday. The right-hander is expected to throw another bullpen session in the coming days and will likely be able to return from the 15-day injured list in early September. Mahle is eligible to rejoin the Twins as early as Sept. 2.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Resumes throwing
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Mahle (shoulder) has resumed throwing and is expected to toss a bullpen session Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Mahle has been on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation since Saturday, but he's making good progress in his recovery. The right-hander is eligible to return as early as Sept. 2, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him rejoin the Twins following a relatively minimal IL stint.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: To 15-day IL
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Mahle (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Per Miller, it's a precautionary move by the Twins that allows the team to add a lefty reliever (Devin Smeltzer) against the lefty-heavy Rangers. Mahle was already expected to miss his next start. He is eligible to return Sept. 2.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Likely to miss start
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Mahle (shoulder) felt good Friday and went through most of his usual routine between starts, but he's likely to have his scheduled turn through the rotation Tuesday pushed back or skipped, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander has been temporarily shut down from throwing after exiting Wednesday's start with general soreness and fatigue in his shoulder, though there doesn't seem to be any major concern regarding the injury. Still, Mahle isn't expected to be ready for his regular turn through the rotation Tuesday, so there's a chance he ends up on the injured list.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: MRI returns clean
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The Twins announced Thursday that the MRI taken on Mahle's right shoulder revealed no issue, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Mahle remains day-to-day with an injury the Twins are describing as "general soreness and fatigue."
After his average fastball velocity was down approximately four miles per hour from his season average during his start Wednesday versus the Royals, Mahle was pulled after 2.1 innings, despite having allowed only one baserunner. Fortunately for Mahle, his shoulder is structurally sound, and he doesn't appear to be dealing with a strain either. He's tentatively lined up to make his next start Aug. 23 in Houston, but the Twins will likely wait and see how he fares during a bullpen session this weekend before locking him in for his next turn through the rotation.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: MRI on tap
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Mahle is scheduled to undergo a precautionary MRI after he exited Wednesday's 4-0 win over the Tigers in the third inning with what the Twins described as right shoulder fatigue, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He struck out one batter and allowed zero hits and one walk over 2.1 scoreless innings and didn't factor into the decision.
Manager Rocco Baldelli said the MRI will reveal if anything is structurally wrong with Mahle's shoulder, but initial examinations of the right-hander revealed nothing overly concerning. Baldelli noted that Mahle is experiencing some acute pain, so even if the MRI comes back clean, the 27-year-old will still need to prove he can throw without discomfort and with his normal velocity to avoid a trip to the IL. He tentatively lines up to make his next start Tuesday in Houston.
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Twins' Tyler Mahle: Shoulder issue prompts early exit
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The Twins announced that Mahle was removed in the third inning of his start Wednesday against the Royals due to right shoulder fatigue, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He struck out one and allowed one hit and no walks over 2.1 scoreless innings before departing.
A reason for Mahle's removal from the contest wasn't immediately provided when he was lifted midway through the third inning, but the shoulder issue explains why his average fastball velocity sat at 89.2 miles per hour during the start, down more than four ticks from his season-long average heading into the day. The Twins are expected to provide a more precise diagnosis for Mahle after the game or Thursday, when he presumably gets sent in for more tests if not an MRI. Even if a shoulder strain is ruled out, Mahle still appears to be at risk of missing his next turn through the rotation, which is expected to come next Tuesday in Houston.
