Minnesota Twins righthander Scott Baker, who has battled through elbow problems this season, gave up five runs in six innings to the Red Sox on Monday night. And after the game, he told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Joe Christensen that his elbow is bothering him again:

“I have no problem pitching with some discomfort as long as it’s something that’s not going to get worse,” Baker said. “I’m OK being a little sore, but if you’re not effective because of it, then that’s a different story. So we’ve got some things to talk through.”

Baker has posted the best numbers of any Twins starter this season, with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.2 WHIP and a 122 ERA+. He spent time on the disabled list last month with what was then described as “a right flexor sprain”, and said though it’s not any worse, it’s not really getting any better, either:

“It’s not as bad as it initially was,” Baker said. “It’s just really kind of lingered for a while, and it takes a lot of work to get loose. … I guess there’s never an ideal time for this. It’s never easy, but you don’t want to be that guy that has to go on the DL, if that’s the decision they make.”

The Twins’ medical staff will check Baker out and likely make a decision Tuesday on whether he’ll have to return to the DL.