MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins activated relievers Tommy Milone and Trevor May from the 15-day disabled list before Friday's game against the Indians.
Milone, out since Aug. 12 with left biceps tendinitis, and May, out since Aug. 7 with a lower back strain, both threw two-inning simulated games on Tuesday without any issues. They were each cleared to return to action on Friday, giving the Twins a 13-man bullpen.
"It seems like a big number," Twins manager Paul Molitor said with a laugh. "If we have to run into pitching [infielder Eduardo] Escobar now, we're really in trouble."
Milone, who is 3-4 with a 5.68 ERA in 65 innings this year, said his command wasn't where he wanted it to be in his simulated game but that he expects it to get better the more he throws off the mound. He missed 24 games with the injury and said he's excited to get back.
"It's unfortunate but it's obviously good to be healthy again, especially down the home stretch of the season," Milone said. "Being healthy going into the offseason is very important."
May, has posted a 4.89 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings, was more pleased with his command than Milone in their outing on Tuesday. Molitor has said he'll ease May and Milone into action, but May, who missed 29 games, said he's hoping to be back pitching in a late-inning role by the end of the season.
"I'm sure it'll be lower-leverage, but it would be nice to get back to getting that opportunity to throw in those big situations again," May said. "I want to get back in there and show I can do it."
Wetterling tribute
• The Twins showed their support for Jacob Wetterling and his family on Friday, as both clubs wore patches on their jerseys with the No. 11. The remains of Wetterling, who went missing nearly 27 years ago as an 11-year-old, were found last week after a lengthy investigation that saw Danny Heinrich confess to the murder.
Wetterling wore No. 11 in sports as a child, and the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, which was created in his honor to help families and communities address and prevent the exploitation of children, lists 11 traits to live by. The Twins are holding an auction, selling 11 game-used jerseys to support the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. They also added an outfield wall graphic at Target Field for the remainder of the season.
"Obviously, being a Minnesota kid, the Wetterling case hits especially hard for me," said Twins first baseman Joe Mauer, a St. Paul native. "I've been following it a long time. Jacob is my brother's age. We just want to do our small part to show our support for the family. It just seemed like the right thing to do. We know they have their 11 things so we wanted to wear No. 11 on our jerseys to show support for the family."