MINNEAPOLIS -- Left-hander Adalberto Mejia is tentatively scheduled to be called up from Triple-A Rochester to start against the Royals on Saturday.
The Twins need a fifth starter for Saturday, and because of their doubleheader vs. the Rockies on Thursday after Wednesday's rainout, they need a sixth starter for Monday against the Orioles. Mejia, Minnesota's No. 8 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, was removed after three scoreless innings and 33 pitches with Rochester on Tuesday to allow him to start on short rest on Saturday.
"Mejia is probably going to pitch Saturday," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "That's how we're planning it right now. But there's some potential to change. But that's why we shortened him up the other night."
As for Monday's starter, the Twins are still weighing their options, with right-handers Kyle Gibson and Adam Wilk the top candidates. Gibson has pitched well since getting optioned to Triple-A Rochester, posting a 2.92 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings in his two starts.
Gibson, though, is scheduled to start on Saturday, so the Twins would either need to push him back or give him a short start at Rochester like they did with Mejia on Tuesday.
"We're keeping our options open," Molitor said. "We have some ideas for Monday."
Wilk is on the roster, which helps his cause. But he's a long reliever, so if he's needed for an extended outing this weekend, he might not be available to start on Monday.
"It's one of those things you have to watch," Molitor said. "If you need him for extended pitches before that, it could take him out of the mix. But we all know who's available down there. There's some roster manipulating we'd have to do, and we're already planning to have Mejia here on Saturday."