Twins injury updates: Carlos Correa should be playoff-ready; status of Royce Lewis, Byron Buxton unclear

Carlos Correa is expected to be ready for the start of the MLB playoffs, but Royce Lewis' status remains more uncertain.

Correa, sidelined for the past week after he aggravated plantar fasciitis in his left foot, is eligible to return from the 10-day injured list Friday when the Twins travel to Colorado for their final series of the regular season.

"There is a chance he could play in Colorado," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday. "That kind of says how he's doing and how he's feeling. I think getting back on the field could help him."

Correa has been playing through pain in his left foot since May, and he will manage it in the postseason. The Twins will likely open the playoffs next Tuesday at Target Field in the wild-card round.

"I'm hitting and taking my ground balls on the side," Correa said. "Feeling better."

Lewis, out because of a hamstring strain, has progressed to taking swings, but a determination on his playoff availability likely won't be made until a pre-playoff workout at Target Field next Monday. The Twins must finalize their 26-man playoff roster by the morning of their first game.

If Lewis is limited as a runner, the Twins are open to putting him on their postseason roster as a designated hitter.

"He's swinging already, which is a positive and the first thing we've got to figure out," Baldelli said. "If he can do that and get to the point where can take all kinds of swings, stretch, get on top of balls, stay through breaking balls, reach and do all these things — once he can do all that without any pain or feeling his hammy at all — then we can talk about what's next."

Byron Buxton played two rehabilitation games with Class AAA St. Paul last week, but his regular season is likely over.

Buxton, who is on the playoff roster bubble, is expected to remain at Target Field this weekend to face live pitching. He went 1-for-8 in the two games last week with an RBI single up the middle and three strikeouts.

The 29-year-old Buxton played one minor league game in center field, on Aug. 30, but his right knee flared up and it required a cortisone shot, so if he returns, it will be as a DH.

"Buck, [Joey] Gallo, Nick Gordon, [Jorge] Alcala and those guys, they'll be around, mainly here, this week," Baldelli said.

It was a longer wait than Brock Stewart anticipated, but he rejoined the Twins on Tuesday after a three-month stint on the IL.

Stewart, who dealt with elbow soreness and median nerve discomfort in his forearm, posted a 0.70 ERA in his first 25 relief appearances with 35 strikeouts in 25⅔ innings.

"Definitely was anxious to get back," Stewart said. "This is the most fun I've had."

Reliever Dylan Floro was designated for release or assignment. The Twins acquired Floro from the Miami Marlins in July in exchange for Jorge López.

* Willi Castro was sidelined Saturday and Sunday because of soreness in his lower back, but he is expected to return to the lineup Wednesday night. "Those two days that I wasn't playing, I wasn't feeling right," he said. "When I was trying to touch my toes, it was a little painful. [Tuesday], I woke up way better."

* Baldelli didn't expect any players to play in each of the final six regular-season games: "Each one of them will have one or two days where they are probably off their feet. I also want them to stay sharp. I want them to still go out there and see enough pitching, have enough at-bats, play enough in the field in certain spots where they're ready to go when the time comes next Tuesday."

* The Twins will send a group of minor leaguers to Fort Myers, Fla., to stay ready in case of postseason injuries. St. Paul manager Toby Gardenhire is expected to lead the workouts.