Twins option Tonkin to make room for Milone

MINNEAPOLIS -- No matter what Tyler Duffey did in his second Major League start Saturday, the Twins needed to make a roster move. With Tommy Milone coming back from the 15-day disabled list and getting the start Sunday, it seemed like Duffey might be the one to go.

But Duffey earned himself at least one more start with his performance Saturday, throwing six innings of one-hit ball in a 4-1 win over the Indians. Instead, the team optioned Michael Tonkin back to Triple-A Rochester.

Video: CLE@MIN: Duffey fans seven over six scoreless frames

Tonkin was recalled on Friday when Blaine Boyer landed on the DL. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and gave up a run in Friday's loss and will head back to Rochester with a 6.17 ERA in 11 2/3 innings with the Twins this year.

To make room for Duffey in the rotation, Trevor May, a starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter, will head back to the bullpen. Though general manager Terry Ryan said May's future is as a starter, manager Paul Molitor has liked how May has pitched out of the bullpen since he landed there in early July.

May has helped eat valuable innings as a setup man and only returned to the rotation on short rest because starter Phil Hughes had to go on the DL.

"Between his stuff and how he handles himself out there, it looks like he's supposed to be out there that time of the game," Molitor said of May.

Duffey will start for the team on Thursday in Baltimore. May, once he recovers from his 49-pitch effort Friday, will be available out of the bullpen.

"We talked about the Trevor May situation a lot before we decided to bring him in [to start]. The Hughes injury kind of forced our hand a little bit," Molitor said. "I was hoping from everything I heard about Duff that he'd have a chance to come up here and kind of prompt us to consider giving him another start. I'm kind of happy about that for him obviously, but also the fact that me putting Trevor back out there I think is a good thing for our team."