Texas @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2010 ) Minnesota 6, Texas 4
The ailing Minnesota Twins are hanging on to first place even as players keep dropping off their roster.
The Twins will be looking to stay healthy and atop their division when they open up a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Friday.
Without one of their former MVPs - Justin Morneau - since before the All-Star break, Minnesota has managed to make up for that loss of offensive production with generous contributions from players like Jim Thome, Jason Kubel and Orlando Hudson. But now those three players and a host of others are beginning to wear down as the final month of the regular season begins.
Kubel could be out for a few more days with a left wrist that requires treatment and Hudson was kept out of the lineup on Thursday due to a balky right ankle, though he could be back as early as Friday.
Thome has struggled with back problems from time to time during his career and this season is no different. He struck out in one at-bat as a pinch hitter on Thursday and will require extra rest over the next couple of weeks.
The Twins did manage nine runs and 15 hits without those three for much of the game on Thursday, yet they still fell to the Detroit Tigers 10-9 in 13 innings.
The worst thing about that setback was not that it trimmed Minnesota’s lead in the American League Central to 3 ½ games over the Chicago White Sox, but instead saw the loss of starter Scott Baker, who was forced out after two innings due to elbow pain.
A short bullpen forced manager Ron Gardenhire to use Brian Duensing - his scheduled starter for Sunday - for two innings and finally Nick Blackburn, who was supposed to take the mound in Friday’s opener, for the 13th. Blackburn suffered the loss, surrendering a solo homer to Gerald Laird.
Gardenhire will have to do some shuffling with his rotation, possibly moving Saturday’s scheduled starter, Carl Pavano, up to Friday or dipping into the minor leagues.
The Rangers aren’t fully healthy either, though with a 10-game cushion in the AL West they can afford to give stars like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz and Cliff Lee all the rest they need.
Texas will send Derek Holland to the mound tonight. The organization has high hopes for the future for the left-hander, who has made two appearances since being recalled from the minors. Holland was shelled in a start at Tampa on Aug. 18 and pitched 4 2/3 strong innings out of the bullpen last Saturday.
Holland was up with the big club for most of May and made his last appearances that month against the Twins, allowing three runs on three hits while walking three in just one inning. The 23-year-old was placed on the disabled list the next day with inflammation in his pitching shoulder.