Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes was placed on the 15-day DL Thursday with a sore back, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes was placed on the 15-day DL Thursday with a sore back, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. His time on the DL will be backdated to his last start, Aug. 9.

Hughes was knocked around in Sunday's start against the Indians, allowing seven runs on nine hits and a walk in just three innings. He struck out two as he fell to 10-8 on the season.

The righty simply didn't have it Sunday, as he allowed five extra-base hits and was pulled after the third inning, when Cleveland scored four runs to break the game open. Hughes has struggled of late, allowing 15 runs in 13.2 innings over his last three starts, and he will look to bounce back Saturday against this same Indians team.

Hughes (10-6) allowed five runs on 10 hits and struck out five in five innings to pick up the win over the Mariners on Thursday.

Hughes gave up two-run homers to Seth Smith and Austin Jackson but received plenty of run support to pick up his 10th win for the season. After a horrible start to the season in which he lost four straight starts, Hughes has now won six straight decisions, and the Twins have won eight of the past nine games he started. He's 10-2 since May 4, and he'll look to keep it going in his next start Tuesday at Toronto.

Hughes tossed seven shutout innings as the Twins spanked the Yankees 10-1 Friday night. He allowed seven hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out three.

Hughes (9-6, 3.93 ERA) has been pitching much better of late after a sluggish start to the year. Known for his command, he didn't walk a hitter in this one, and has now turned in 50 consecutive starts where he has walked three or fewer. Always around the strike zone, he can get a little too much of the plate at times, but he limits the baserunners, and that helps limit any damage.

Hughes gave up four runs on eight hits with no walks and three strikeouts over five innings, but got the win and improved to 8-6 in Saturday's victory over the Tigers.

After a slow start, Hughes finally seemed to be getting in gear with a 3.76 ERA in June. However, he's given up six runs in 11.1 innings in two July starts. Hughes has seen a sharp decline in his strikeouts to 5.4 K/9 from 8.0 K/9 last season and his home runs allowed have returned to levels from his Yankee Stadium days (1.69 HR/9). He'll need to improve in both areas to have a strong second half.

Hughes pitched well in a no-decision Monday, allowing just two runs in 6.1 innings.

Hughes has been a reliable innings-eater for the Twins this season, pitching into the seventh inning in each of his last four starts. The veteran righty will carry a 4.19 ERA into his next start this weekend against the Tigers.

Hughes earned the win Tuesday, holding the Reds to four runstwo earnedin 6.2 innings.

Hughes has now won three consecutive decisions and managed to drop his ERA from 4.96 to 4.10 in June. In his five starts this month, Hughes managed to strike out 23 batters while walking just four. His next start will come this weekend against the Royals.

Hughes (6-6) dominated the White Sox on Wednesday, giving up just one run on six hits over eight innings. He struck out five and didn't walk anyone.

Amazingly, that modest strikeout total is Hughes' best since April 24 -- exactly two months ago -- and third-best of the entire season. However, he continues to show incredible control, as he's still on nine walks through 98.1 innings this season. Hughes has now turned in back-to-back eight-inning, one-run outings at home against the two Chicago franchises. The White Sox in particular, though, have been low-hanging fruit for a lot of pitchers this year, so don't get overly excited, but it does appear that Hughes is rounding back into form. He next gets the Reds on the road Tuesday.

Hughes had his best start of the season in Friday's win over the Cubs as he allowed one run over eight innings with four strikeouts. The Twins credit his improved start to more frequent use of his change-up. "He kept trying it," manager Paul Molitor told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "which, I think, over the course of the second half will be a pitch he will continue to use more."

Hughes had been in a slump with a 5.47 ERA and just 4.8 K/9 in his last four starts, so hopefully Friday's outing is a sign he'll turn his season around. His strikeout rate remains an issue as he's fallen to 5.5 K/9 from 8.0 K/9 last season.

Hughes allowed three runs through six innings against the Rangers Sunday, striking out three and walking one. He did not factor into the decision.

The righty avoided trouble for the most part, but fell victim to a pair of solo home runs in the second before allowing a third run from a bases loaded jam in the fifth. Hughes' ERA still sits at a disappointing 4.79 on the season, but he has now tossed back-to-back quality starts and will look to make it three as he faces the Cubs at home in his next start Friday.

Hughes fell to 4-6 despite a quality start Tuesday against Kansas City, as he allowed three runs on seven hits over 7.2 innings.

Hughes walked one but only struck out three, and Kendrys Morales touched him up for a two-run home run. Hughes keeps pounding the zone, but his stuff looks as hittable as it did in his Yankees days this year. His ERA sits at 4.81.

Hughes allowed five runs on 11 hits over 4.1 innings while striking out four and walking one in the Twins' Game 1 loss to the Red Sox on Wednesday.

In a 77-pitch outing, Hughes generated just one swinging strike Wednesday. While he's been able maintain an elite walk rate again this season (0.9 BB/9), Hughes has become prone to the long ball again after seemingly shaking that problem during his first campaign with the Twins. With a 12.4% HR/FB rate through 11 starts, it will be interesting to see if he's able to return to his 2014 level (6.2% HR/FB) over the final four months of the season. He'll face the Royals on Monday at Target Field in his next scheduled start.

Hughes will likely be limited to just one start this week due to the postponement of Monday's game.

Hughes was set to start Tuesday and Sunday this week, but Monday's postponement will almost certainly push his first scheduled start back to Wednesday, and his second to next week. While Hughes will lose his status as a two-start pitcher this week, he figures to gain it next week in what otherwise would have been a one-start period.

Hughes (4-4) gave up four runs on six hits -- including a pair of homers -- and struck out three over 6.2 innings in Wednesday's win over Boston.

Aside from a pair of two-run shots by Dustin Pedroia, the Sox weren't able to muster much in the way of offense against Hughes, but Pedroia's work was enough to dampen his final fantasy line. In that way, Wednesday was much like the rest of this season, as Hughes has been haunted by the long ball. Hughes' control has been his hallmark, but he's been around the plate a little too much so far. He'll draw a rematch with Boston on Tuesday.

Hughes went seven strong innings Friday, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in a 3-2 loss to the White Sox.

Hughes hasn't been at his best this season, but he's now back-to-back seven-inning, two-run performances, so perhaps he's found his stride after a rough start to the season. As usual, he's done a great job limiting his walks, issuing just six in 58 innings thus far. Hughes has a tough matchup in his next game, as he'll face the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Hughes gave up two runs over seven innings with three strikeouts and one walk, but got a no-decision in Friday's loss to the White Sox.

Hughes left with the game tied and the bullpen gave up a run in the eighth inning to lose the game. Hughes didn't allow a home run for just the second start this season, so at least that's a good sign as the long ball has plagued him this season (1.55 HR/9 IP). He's put together two decent outings (14 IP with 4 ER in his last two starts with a 6:2 K:BB ratio), so he at least looks to be improving after a slow start to the season (5.11 ERA in his first seven starts).

Hughes gave up two runs on five hits over seven innings pitched on Friday to earn his third win of the season.

Hughes earned win number three on Friday, beating Tampa Bay 3-2 in what was a very solid performance. He's now won three consecutive starts, and seems to be getting more comfortable every time he toes the rubber. Hughes walked just one batter and struck out three, to bring his ERA down to 4.76. He'll try to bring it down some more in his next start in Pittsburgh.

Hughes picked up the win Saturday, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 6.1 innings, striking out four.

He actually held the Indians off the board through five innings, before he gave up one run in the sixth and then had the wheels come off in the seventh. Hughes' 32:4 K:BB ratio in 44 innings is still very good, but his 5.11 ERA is an eyesore. He'll try to whittle it down in his next start, at home to the Rays.

Hughes (hip) earned his first win of the season Tuesday against the A's, only striking out two batters and allowing two home runs in six innings.

Hughes didn't have a great outing, but his teammates gave him enough run support to earn the win. His FIP is currently at 4.79, which would be the highest mark of his career, and he's only striking out 6.69 batters per nine innings.

Hughes (hip) has been cleared to start Monday against the A's, MLB.com reports.

GM Terry Ryan indicated Thursday that Hughes would be fine to toe the rubber Monday despite leaving Wednesday's game after five innings due to a left hip flexor strain. Hughes did away with any remaining doubt Friday, completing a bullpen session without issue.