Twins place Kirilloff on IL, activate Thielbar

The Minnesota Twins have placed first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury and have activated left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar from the 15-day injured list with an oblique injury.

Kirilloff was injured diving for a ball at first base on July 25 but returned to the lineup for this weekend's series against the Kansas City Royals. 

Although he went 1-for-8 with five strikeouts in the first two games of the series with the Royals, Kirilloff was beginning to turn it on, hitting .310/.348/.738 with four homers and 14 RBI over 10 games prior to the injury. On the season, Kirilloff is hitting .270/.357/.442 with eight homers and 32 RBI.

Thielbar will replace Kirilloff after dealing with his own injury issues this season. The left-hander has pitched in just 12 games for the Twins this season after suffering an oblique injury in May.

Although Thielbar returned on June 4, he recorded just one out before landing back on the injured list. The 36-year-old recently completed a rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints, allowing one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over four scoreless innings.

At 54-52, the Twins are currently 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the American League Central entering Sunday's series finale with the Kansas City Royals.