MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins right-hander Tyler Mahle will be shut down for at least four weeks after tests revealed a posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain in his pitching elbow.
Mahle left his most recent start last Thursday against Kansas City after four innings, showing diminished velocity. Mahle said after the game there wasn't much concern, but he had an MRI and X-rays.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli announced the diagnosis following Sunday's game against the Royals and said Mahle will be shut down from throwing for four weeks before being reevaluated.
The news comes a day after Minnesota placed fellow starter Kenta Maeda on the 15-day injured list with a right triceps strain. Bailey Ober, who started 31 games for the Twins over the past two seasons, took Maeda's spot in the rotation.
The 28-year-old Mahle is 1-2 with a 3.16 ERA in five starts this season. The right-hander was acquired at the trade deadline from Cincinnati last year for three prospects.
Shoulder issues sidelined Mahle after he arrived in Minnesota, and he spent time on the injured list. In nine starts for the Twins, he has left the game three times due to injury.
Earlier in the day, the Twins sent right-hander Trevor Megill to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash and a player to be named. Megill, a 29-year-old right-hander, was 0-0 with a 13.03 ERA in seven games this season for Triple-A St. Paul. He was designated for assignment Tuesday to open a roster spot for right-hander Brock Stewart.
Megill was 4-3 with a 4.80 ERA in 39 appearances for the Twins last season and 1-2 with a 8.37 ERA in 28 games for the 2021 Chicago Cubs.
The Twins also announced they returned Alex Kirilloff, an outfielder and first baseman, from his rehabiltiation assignment, reinstated him from the 10-day injured list, and then optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul.
Kirilloff began this season on the IL while recovering from right wrist surgery and hit a combined .316 (12-for-38) with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 11 minor-league games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.