The sun is shining, the temperature is in the low 80s and so the weather could not be more beautiful for a ballgame tonight at Kauffman Stadium. It’s nights like these where you can’t help but get excited about the move to Target Field next season, knowing that there are chances to see baseball in these kind of conditions.

As for news, Joe Crede’s back is better and he’s in the lineup agianst the Royals tonight. Crede said that there will be a few times during the season when his back flares up but he’s thankful for how the Twins have handled it so far. He knows it’s better not to try and push it on days like Monday when he just couldn’t get it loose because that’s when a more serious injury can happen.

In Minor League news, Triple-A Rochester coach Riccardo Ingram has taken a personal medical leave and will be away from the team indefinitely. To replace Ingram, Rich Miller will be moved up to Rochester from Class A
Beloit. The Twins have hired former player Chris
Heintz to take Miller’s place at Beloit. This will be Heintz’s first coaching job.

Here are your lineups:

Twins
Denard Span, LF
Brendan Harris, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jason Kubel, DH
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Joe Crede, 3B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: Scott Baker, RHP

Royals
David DeJesus, LF
Willie Bloomquist, RF
Billy Butler, 1B
Mike Jacobs, DH
Mark Teahen, 3B
Alberto Callaspo, 2B
Miguel Olivo, C
Mitch Maier, CF
Tony Pena Jr., SS
Pitching: Brian Bannister, RHP