Kenta Maeda’s magnetic resonance imaging exam did not show any structural damage, which represented a best-case scenario for the Twins. But it did show a muscle strain and some inflammation in the pitcher’s throwing arm, which means the veteran right-hander is likely headed for a stint on the injured list.

The Twins have not made a roster move yet, but it seems like an inevitability in the coming days.

“We just have to be thorough and make sure that when he comes back, this is no longer an issue,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We’re not focusing on anything except getting him healthy right now.”

Maeda had been feeling some soreness and fatigue after his first couple of starts, prompting the Twins to skip his turn in the rotation earlier this month. He said what he felt Wednesday, when he exited his start against the Yankees in the fourth inning after allowing 10 runs on 11 hits, was a similar soreness.

Maeda said it was hard to pinpoint exactly where the pain was in his arm, saying it was more like a “general area.” When he met with the media on Thursday, he had yet to go over his MRI results in detail with a doctor and was waiting to hear more about what his next steps would be.

The 35-year-old from Japan missed all of last season rehabbing after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2021, and Maeda said he has spoken with other pitchers who have recovered from the surgery as he deals with his arm soreness and works his way back.

“They’ve told me it’s within normal range to feel something like this after coming back from surgery,” Maeda said through interpreter Daichi Sekizaki. “If I had felt this without the Tommy John (surgery), it would be more concerning. But hearing from those guys who have had it, been there, done that, that makes me feel better.”

Since the Twins have not yet placed him on the injured list, they have not spoken publicly about how they might fill his spot in the rotation, though Bailey Ober figures to be the most likely candidate.

Ober made started against the Nationals on Sunday with the Twins before being optioned back to Triple-A St. Paul. The Twins can bring him back without waiting the requisite 15 days if he comes back as an injury replacement. If the Twins opt for Ober, he could slot into the rotation and make a start during their current series against the Kansas City Royals.

“It’s certainly possible we could shuffle our guys around and insert someone,” Baldelli said. “Just when and how? That’s for the coming days.”

Winder returns

Brent Headrick’s reward for a job well done on Wednesday was a trip back to Triple-A.

Such is life for a long reliever.

The Twins reinstated Josh Winder (shoulder) from the injured list on Thursday to take the roster spot of Headrick, who pitched five innings in relief after Maeda left Wednesday’s game early. Headrick allowed two runs on three hits.

Winder, who bounced back and forth between the bullpen and starting rotation last season and finished his rookie season with a 4.70 earned-run average in 67 innings, joins a group of arms that the Twins will look to as long relievers, in part because of multiple years of shoulder injuries that have kept him off the field.

“I talked to Rocco and the staff and we all thought it was in the best interest of me and the team to find a way to get me to contribute while also keeping me healthy and trying to manage the workload a little bit,” Winder said. “It’s been really, really good, and I’ve had a couple weeks to kind of try out the bullpen and get my routine honed in so, yeah, I’m ready to go.”

Winder’s spring training was slowed by some offseason shoulder soreness, and it was during the exhibition season that the Twins talked with Winder about the decision to have him pitch shorter outings. His last appearance with the Saints was three innings in relief, and he’s gotten up to around 55 pitches, which he said is kind of the range they’re looking at for him.

“When we were talking about his plan and getting him ready, where he kind of was falling on the chart of starting pitchers that we had, we kind of just talked and put our heads together and the decision was made to just shorten him up,” Baldelli said. “I think some guys definitely hold up better in shorter stints, one- or two- or three-inning stints, as opposed to pitching every five days and getting extended.”

As for maintaining his shoulder, Winder said they’ve been focusing on building stability and strength and targeting some areas with weakness to try to keep it healthy throughout the season.

“I really like the routine and the arm care and just doing the boring stuff every day and doing it well and correctly because it is really easy to let things go by the wayside,” Winder said. “It’s just more being really on top of it and being proactive as opposed to reactive.”

Why 3:10 p.m.?

Friday games at Target Field are usually reserved for night time.

Not this week.

This Friday, the Twins are experimenting with a new promotion they’re calling “612 Happy Hour.” It’s the only 3:10 p.m. Friday start the Twins will have other than Opening Day, and it’s an idea the organization is testing out for potential future implementation.

Gates to the ballpark open at 1 p.m., and between then and game time, the Twins are offering $6 draft beer, $1 sodas and $2 hot dogs along with free popcorn at concession stands.