Hughes was a late scratch from Monday's start due to an illness.

Hughes was scheduled to start Monday's contest against the Indians, but Tommy Milone will fill in instead. At this point it's unclear how serious the issue is or how it will impact the Twins' starting rotation for the final week of the regular season.

Hughes (11-9) went five shutout innings Wednesday, giving up four hits and no walks while striking out four in a 6-4 win over the Indians.

Departing after throwing just 66 pitches, Hughes performed well in his second start since returning from the disabled list. It appears that Hughes will keep Tommy Milone's rotation spot in the short term, though his reduced pitch counts indicate that he may not be at 100 percent.

Hughes will replace Tommy Milone in the rotation and start Wednesday at Cleveland, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports

Hughes had moved to the bullpen after he struggled in his first start back from a back injury on Set. 15. He gave up a run with a strikeout in two innings in relief on Saturday and that convinced the Twins to give him another shot at the rotation with Milone ailing with a sore shoulder.

Hughes won't start during the upcoming homestand, but could pitch in relief, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The plan for Hughes moving forward remains a bit unclear, but he will at least be temporarily removed from the rotation.

Hughes allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over three innings in his ninth loss Tuesday against Detroit. He struck out four.

Hughes threw 65 pitches in his return from the disabled list with a back injury. His control was sharp, as he threw just 22 balls in 65 pitches, but he induced just four swinging strikes and couldn't make the Tigers miss when he needed to. Only one of the Tigers' six hits off Hughes was an extra-base hit, a Victor Martinez double, but it was enough to get to him. Expect his pitch count to bump up in his next start, but he may still not be at full strength yet.

The Twins activated Hughes (back) from the disabled list Tuesday, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

Hughes will jump right into the rotation and start Tuesday night against the Tigers. He will be available to fantasy owners if needed, but he has given up 11 earned runs in 16 innings (6.19 ERA) over three starts against Detroit this season, and will likely be limited to 75-80 pitches, so his prospects for Tuesday night are not the greatest.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes was activated from the disabled list after recovering from a back injury, and he will start Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, according to MLB.com.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes was activated from the disabled list after recovering from a back injury, and he will start Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, according to MLB.com. Hughes has been sidelined with the injury since mid-August, but he will head straight back to the rotation after experiencing no issues during a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday. He has struggled this season, posting a 4.69 ERA in 23 games, but Twins manager Paul Molitor said he believes Hughes can help the team as they find themselves one game out of the second wild card spot in the American League. "It’s not really a normal thing that you would consider early in the year,” Molitor told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “Phil deserves a chance to get back in there and help us. We wouldn’t do it just to appease him. We’re trying to find guys to go out there and give us quality starts. His track record is as good as anybody’s.”

Hughes (back) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday and will be activated to start Tuesday's game against the Tigers, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

The 29-year-old righty has been pretty awful this season, posting a 4.49 ERA and 4.82 WHIP with just 85 strikeouts in 144.1 innings. He could be useful for owners desperate for wins, but in most formats it would be best to avoid him against Detroit on Tuesday.

Hughes (back) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Hughes continues to work his way back from a back injury that has sidelined him since mid-August. While he still has a little ways to go, there's a chance he will rejoin the rotation prior to the end of the regular season if everything goes without a hitch.

Hughes (back) threw 45 pitches on the mound in Wednesday's simulated game and will await the Twins' decision on the next step in his rehab, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

He said all went well after fielding bunts and also throwing 15 pitches in the cage. This was the first time he had faced hitters since Aug. 9. Hughes does not necessarily represent an upgrade in the Twins' rotation, based on his performance this season, so it will be interesting to see how he is deployed going forward.

Hughes (back) threw a successful bullpen session on Sunday and will head to Kansas City for a simulated game on Wednesday, Mike Berardino of The Pioneer Press reports.

Everything appears to be on track for the 29-year-old, who's been on the DL with a sore back since Aug. 9. While Hughes will likely not arrive on the Twins roster until the final weeks of the season, it's probably for the best considering his struggles this year --- in 144.3 innings, Hughes has a 4.49 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes will throw a simulated game Wednesday in Kansas City while recovering from a back injury, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Phil Hughes will throw a simulated game Wednesday in Kansas City while recovering from a back injury, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Hughes, who is not expected to pitch again this season, threw a successful bullpen session Sunday.

Hughes (back) threw a five-minute bullpen session Thursday without any issues, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Hughes has been out since Aug. 9 with a sore back that required an epidural injection. He'll throw another bullpen session or two before facing hitters in the Twins instructional league in Florida. He may return for the final week or two if all goes well.

Hughes (back) will throw another bullpen session Sunday before joining the Twins in Kansas City for a simulate game, MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger reports.

He threw his last bullpen session without any issues. Given how bad he has been this season (4.81 FIP), the Twins may not be in a rush to get him back in the mix.

Hughes played catch on flat ground Friday, but his return from a back injury has been slow, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's still a long way from getting on a mound and being ready to compete in a game," manager Paul Molitor said.

It sounds like Hughes may not return until mid-September at this point as he may need a rehab start or two before re-joining the Minnesota rotation.

Hughes (back) is scheduled to play catch Wednesday or Thursday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

It's Hughes' first sign of progress since he went on the DL with a sore back, but there's no timetable for his return.

Hughes (back) will not come off the DL when eligible Tuesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "Phil is still having a little discomfort," manager Paul Molitor said.

The Twins initially thought Hughes would spend the minimum time on the 15-day DL and return Tuesday, but now his return date is uncertain. He's only been able to work out in a pool.

Hughes has not begun any baseball activities yet as he recovers from a sore back, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan had said initially that Hughes was expected to return from the disabled list Aug. 25, but this report would appear to cast some doubt on that forecast.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Hughes (back) is expected to return from the disabled list Aug. 25, the Star Tribune reports.

Hughes has a history of back injuries and successfully addressed a similar issue with an epidural injection a few years ago. The Twins believe he'll make another quick recovery this time around, so they tentatively expect to have him back for a late August series in Tampa Bay. Trevor May is replacing Hughes in the rotation but will be on a strict pitch count Friday against the Indians.

Hughes was placed on the 15-day DL on Thursday with a sore back, the Star Tribune's Phil Miller reports.

The DL stint will be backdated to Aug. 9, when Hughes got rocked for seven runs in three innings. He has been pretty awful this season, at least compared to his stellar 2014 season. Hughes is tied for the major league lead with 28 home runs surrendered, and he has just 85 strikeouts in 144.1 innings, so it seems hitters have caught on to the fact that he likes to live in the strike zone. Trevor May will start Friday and Tyler Duffey will start Saturday for the Twins.