MINNEAPOLIS -- Max Kepler returned from the injured list on Sunday, and the Twins' lineup took yet another step toward becoming whole again.

The Twins activated their right fielder from the 10-day injured list following his recovery from a left adductor strain, leaving Mitch Garver (right intercostal strain) and Luis Arraez (left knee tendinitis) as the only starting position players out of action. Kepler batted leadoff and started in right in Sunday's 7-5 win over Cleveland, going 0-for-4.

"Kep obviously is a huge contributor to us on both sides of the ball," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "So being able to pencil him in there and let him go back in right field and let him get back up there and watch him swing the bat is always a good feeling. Kep's an exceptional player. He does a good job. He does it quietly, and he's a guy that we always do rely on."

There's no need to remind the Twins how important health will be during the stretch run. They are 8-2 since both Byron Buxton and Josh Donaldson returned from the injured list earlier this month. Kepler hit .220/.322/.431 with seven homers while having patient at-bats atop the lineup all season before the injury, which kept him out for the minimum 10 days.

Though Buxton didn't start Sunday, the Twins are poised to soon have their Opening Day outfield of Eddie Rosario, Buxton and Kepler in a lineup together for the first time since Aug. 18. Garver is also expected to return in the coming days.

With Baldelli cautiously using Buxton and Donaldson since their returns, the Twins are paying careful attention to the measured usage of their key players in the final weeks of the regular season to be as healthy as possible for the postseason, even amid an important stretch of games against the Indians, White Sox and Cubs.

With a magic number of seven to clinch a postseason berth entering Sunday, Minnesota has a balance to strike between putting its best foot forward on any given day and ensuring its players' health, and Baldelli has indicated all season that he usually leans toward the latter.

"We've been, I would say, very diligent, putting a lot of attention on this very topic, making sure that our guys are prepared not only for today's game, but for upcoming games, and to make sure that you do everything you can to make sure your guys are healthy," Baldelli said. "There are never any guarantees in that conversation. You know that no matter what happens, you're going to have to adjust. You're going to have to figure it out day to day."