MINNEAPOLIS -- Just as the Twins' lineup nears full health, another setback strikes.

Luis Arraez hit the 10-day injured list Friday with left knee tendinitis as a result of the soreness in the patellar area that had been lingering throughout much of the 2020 season. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli does not expect this to be a season-ending injury for Arraez, but he acknowledged that the second-year infielder needed an extended stint off his feet to get right.

Arraez has had issues with both knees this year. His right knee bothered him toward the end of Summer Camp, while this balky left knee has caused him to consistently miss time since mid-August. He had played in only two of the Twins' last seven games leading into off-days on Wednesday and Thursday.

"The improvement with even some days off did not seem big enough to where we were getting to the point where we could lean on him or rely on him to play regularly," Baldelli said. "We want him to be able to play regularly, not go out there and be just a piecemeal, complementary-type player that plays a few innings and you have to get him out of there. We couldn’t carry on like that."

Baldelli said that the second baseman won't undergo any invasive procedures but will continue to receive daily treatments. He'll be eligible to come off the IL next Saturday, at which point there will be seven games remaining in the Twins’ regular season.

Even considering all the disruption to Arraez's season, the 23-year-old is still hitting .288/.336/.337 in 2020, including an exemplary .358/.382/.434 line in the last month (since Aug. 12).

"He's a guy that can do some pretty cool things and helpful things when you're trying to win games," Baldelli said. "But no, he has not been able to probably get fully engrossed in the season and fully comfortable physically, and I think that's probably affected him a little bit. But I think we've seen a good version of him lately."

In a corresponding move, the Twins recalled left-hander Devin Smeltzer from the alternate training site to bolster their bullpen ahead of a stretch of 10 consecutive games against three strong teams. Baldelli said his staff had discussions about calling up top prospects Royce Lewis or Travis Blankenhorn, but they currently felt that pitching depth was a bigger area of need than another infield option.

Donaldson feels ready for everyday action
Baldelli has been cautious with his usage of both Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson since their returns from the IL, but Donaldson feels that his ability to play both halves of Wednesday's doubleheader in St. Louis without issue is a strong indication that he can be close to an everyday player again.

"I feel like my running has been improving with each game," Donaldson said. "For me to be able and go out and play 14 innings in the doubleheader, I felt like that was pretty big for myself. I felt strong throughout the game."

The boost that Donaldson and Buxton have provided the Twins has been undeniable. Donaldson is hitting .316/.500/.737 with two homers and two doubles since he returned to the lineup on Sept. 2, and the Twins are 5-1 when Donaldson starts since his return from injury.

"That’s definitely where we want to be with him," Baldelli said. "I think he’s feeling good, too. I think he really wants to be out there right now. I think there’s nothing holding him back from being out there."

Kepler, Garver, Odorizzi nearing arrival
Max Kepler (left adductor strain), Mitch Garver (right intercostal strain) and Jake Odorizzi (chest contusion) have all been rehabbing at the alternate training site in St. Paul, Minn., and could be in consideration for activation to the Twins in the coming days.

Kepler and Homer Bailey (right biceps tendinitis) are eligible for activation on Sunday. Garver and Odorizzi can be activated whenever ready. Baldelli said that both Kepler and Garver have been taking at-bats in intrasquad games, while Garver has also spent time behind the plate. They are expected to see more rehab action on Saturday. Odorizzi has been ramping up in St. Paul since last week.