By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — As many of you already know, the Twins have called up three pitchers from Triple-A Rochester to join the club in time for tonight’s game against the Rangers.

Right-hander Matt Fox will make his Major League debut as he gets the start vs. Texas. Nick Blackburn had originally been slated to start tonight, but he was forced into action in the 13th inning of last night’s 10-9 loss to the Tigers.

An interesting tidbit on Fox is that he was college teammates with Drew Butera at Central Florida. I was interested to see if Butera might get the start but with the Twins looking for offense, Joe Mauer is back behind the plate after catching all 13 innings last night.

In addition to Fox, the Twins will have right-handers Rob Delaney and Alex Burnett available out of the bullpen. This is Delaney’s first Major League callup while Burnett spent a good part of the first half with the team, going 1-2 with a 4.39 ERA.

While the Twins needed pitching, the rest of the club isn’t exactly in full health either. Good news is that Jim Thome and Orlando Hudson are both back in the lineup tonight. Hopefully we’ll get some updates on other players such as Jason Kubel, Brian Fuentes,
Kevin Slowey and Justin Morneau, who was expected to be back at Target Field today.

Tonight’s first pitch will be pushed back to 7:40, as the Twins begin their 50 year celebration weekend by honoring
their 50 greatest all-time players.

Oh and I wasn’t able to get this tidbit in my game story last night. This courtesy of Dustin Morse of the Twins and the Elias Sports Bureau.Brian Duensing tossed two innings of relief two days after a 6?-inning
start.  He was the first major-leaguer in more than 10 years to throw
at least two innings in relief in a game that followed by only one or
two days a start of more than six innings.  The last pitcher to do that
had been Steve Woodard of the Brewers in May 2000.

INJURY UPDATES:

Jason Kubel said that he had an x-ray and an MRI on his left wrist and said they didn’t show any damage. So his goal is to return to the lineup by Sunday.

Brian Fuentes’ back is feeling better but it sounds like he won’t be available tonight.

Here is how Gardy says the rotation will stack up over the next few days:

Sat– Pavano, Sun – Blackburn, Mon -Slowey, Tues – Liriano and Wed – Duensing

Rangers (75-58)

Elvis Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
David Murphy, LF
Josh Hamilton, DH
Nelson Cruz, RF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Bengie Molina, C
Julio Borbon, CF

Pitching: LHP Derek Holland (2-2, 4.76 ERA)

Twins

(77-57)

Denard Span, CF

Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon
Young, LF
Jim Thome, DH
Danny Valencia, 3B
Jason Repko, RF
J.J.

Hardy,
SS

Pitching: RHP Matt Fox

(Major League Debut)

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