Santana went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in a loss against the Astros on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

This was Santana's first game of the season in which he struck out more than three times, upping his strikeout rate to 21.3 percent. The 25-year-old has seen an uptick in playing time lately and had collected nine hits in his past six games entering Thursday.

Santana will start in left field and bat ninth in the order Sunday against the Rays, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's the seventh start in nine games for Santana, who seems to have settled into a timeshare with Robbie Grossman in the corner outfield. Santana has helped his cause by batting 9-for-25 (.306 average) with five runs scored over those previous six starts, so if he can continue to maintain some success at the plate, he'll likely stick ahead of Grossman on the depth chart.

Santana is batting 8-for-32 with a .250/.294/.375 line in July.

EDGE Analysis

The super-utility man seemingly can't find a spot in the lineup since the Twins moved Miguel Sano to third base and started using a five-man outfield rotation. Santana has just eight starts in July and none in the past eight days.

Santana, who was reinstated from the DL after Thursday's game, will not displace Byron Buxton as the Twins' starting center fielder, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Buxton's ongoing struggles led to some speculation that he may be on shaky ground, but the Twins, now 20-46 on the year, will allow the 22-year-old to learn on the job and slot Santana into a utility role. Santana is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Yankees, and he may only see occasional starts between the outfield and middle-infield spots.

Santana (hamstring) was activated off the 15-day disabled list Thursday, Phil Miller of the Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana was able to quickly get healthy after landing on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring, and with Byron Buxton struggling to figure out big league pitching, the Twins opted to activate Santana as quickly as possible. Santana went 4-for-11 during his three-game rehab assignment and he figures to start in center field for the Twins as soon as Friday.

Santanta (hamstring) will likely be activated Friday after completing his rehab assignment Thursday, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana is ready to return to the Twins after needing just three rehab games to prove his hamstring is healed. The move will likely occur Friday, but no corresponding move has been mentioned at this time. He went 4-for-11 during his rehab assignment.

Santana (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Brandon Warne of Cold Omaha reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nothing's definite, but it would seem Santana has a good chance to return during the Yankees series, shortly after his 15 days are up. Byron Buxton got off to a decent start in Santana's absence, but he has just two hits in his last 24 at-bats, so look for Santana to slot back in as the primary center fielder upon his return.

Santana (hamstring) could head out on a rehab assignment as soon as Monday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana has been running for the past week and seems to be coming along well in his recovery from the hamstring injury, the second time he's fallen victim to that type of ailment this season. If Santana is indeed cleared to begin his rehab assignment Monday, he may only stay in the minors for a few days before perhaps rejoining the Twins prior to next weekend.

Santana (hamstring) said his hamstring is healing well, and he could begin a rehab assignment soon, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Santana has been sidelined since May 30 with a strained left hamstring, and suffered a similar injury in early April on his right hamstring. He said that it has been "very similar" to his injury from earlier this season, and has been doing more and more baseball activities as his time on the DL continues. During Santana's previous hamstring injury, he was activated 15 days after being placed on the DL, which would fall on June 14 for this specific injury.

Santana (hamstring) ran at roughly 70 percent Tuesday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

With the hamstring holding up well to Tuesday's activity, Santana plans to start gradually adding more baseball activity to his rehab program. It's not the same hamstring he hurt earlier this season, but the Twins figure to be cautious regardless in hopes of avoiding any more lower-body issues.