By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

Angels (62-62)

Bobby Abreu, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Torii
Hunter, RF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Erick Aybar, SS
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jeff Mathis, C
Peter Bourjos, CF

Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver (11-8, 3.11 ERA)

Twins

(71-52)

Jason Repko, CF

Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Jason
Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Jim Thome, DH
Delmon
Young,
LF
Danny Valencia, 3B
Alexi Casilla, SS

Pitching: RHP Scott Baker

(10-9, 4.85 ERA)

A
reminder
you
can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier 

By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — There are only 41 games remaining in the regular season but the Angels are making their first ever trip to Target Field.

So this is Torii Hunter’s first glimpse at the new ballpark and he sure is loving it.

I’ll have more on that later on the site. For now, here are the lineups.

Angels (61-61)

Bobby Abreu, DH
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Alberto Callaspo, 3B
Torii Hunter, RF
Juan Rivera, LF
Mike Napoli, C
Erick Aybar, SS
Brandon Wood, 3B
Peter Bourjos, CF

Pitching: RHP Dan Haren (1-3, 3.44 ERA)

Twins

(70-51)

Denard Span, CF

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

Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing
(6-1, 2.00 ERA)

A
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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ANAHEIM – Twins manager Ron Gardenhire stuck to his word and inserted Jim Thome into the lineup for a second straight day. Thome didn’t have the best first night on Wednesday, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. But he’ll be the DH and Jason Kubel will shift into left field with Delmon Young getting the night off.

The Twins are prepared for a less than ideal travel schedule tonight, when they leave Anaheim after the game and are scheduled to arrive in Chicago at 5:30 a.m. So I’m sure everyone will be hoping for a quick game tonight, to speed up the travel process.

Twins
(2-1)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jim
Thome, DH
Jason Kubel, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Brendan Harris, 3B
Pitching: RHP Kevin Slowey

Angels (1-2)
Erick
Aybar, SS
Bobby
Abreu, DH
Torii Hunter, CF
Hideki Matsui, LF
Kendry Morales,
1B
Juan Rivera, RF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Maicer Izturis, 3B
Jeff Mathis, C
Pitching: RHP Joel Pineiro
 
A reminder you
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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ANAHEIM – Jim Thome makes his debut as a starter in the Twins lineup, batting sixth as the the club’s designated hitter.

With Thome in the lineup, Jason Kubel sits today. Manager Ron Gardenhire said in his pre-game session that he plans to mix and match over the next few games to get everyone in a game. That includes possibly starting catcher Drew Butera on Friday night in Chicago following the late night flight and turnaround for a night game there.

Gardenhire is also feeling better after missing the final few innings of last night’s game due to flu-like symptoms. He’ll be back in the dugout tonight.

Twins (1-1)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jim Thome, DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano

Angels (1-1)
Erick Aybar, SS
Bobby
Abreu, RF
Torii Hunter, CF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Kendry Morales,
1B
Juan Rivera, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Mike Napoli, C
Brandon Wood, 3B
Pitching: RHP Ervin Santana
 
A reminder you
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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ANAHEIM –Both the Twins and Angels are running out their Opening Day lineups for a second straight night, as they meet in game 2 of the four-game set at Angel Stadium.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had considered starting Brendan Harris at third base against the lefty, but said that the career numbers caused him to stick with Nick Punto for a second straight night. Punto is 4-for-12 against Saunders while Harris is 0-for-3.

Orlando Hudson’s left knee is doing fine after he was hit by a pitch on Monday night. Gardenhire said he didn’t even have to ask Hudson if he wanted to play.

In other news, Ron Mahay pitched a scoreless inning in an intrasquad game down in Fort Myers today. Mahay will join the Class A Fort Myers Miracle squad tomorrow. The purpose is just to get Mahay innings and the club feels it doesn’t matter where those innings come just that he gets to pitch.

UPDATE: The Twins also received good news on right-hander Clay Condrey today. His MRI exam showed a flexor strain in his elbow but no
other structural or ligament damage. They’ll have Condrey rest for 10-14 days and the hope is that he can get back on the mound soon after that.

And here are your lineups for Game 2:

Twins
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn

Angels
Erick Aybar, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Torii Hunter, CF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Kendry Morales, 1B
Juan Rivera, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Brandon Wood, 3B
Jeff Mathis, C
Pitching: LHP Joe Saunders
 
A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier 

By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ANAHEIM -Opening Night is finally here.

After some rain showers this morning, the
sky has cleared and it’s a beautiful sunny California afternoon in
Orange County.Manager Ron Gardenhire was asked if it bothers him that
his team’s contest is one of the last of the day when lots of baseball had been played. But he said that he felt like his club had already been through an Opening Day with the Target Field exhibition contest this past weekend.

Here are your Opening Night lineups:

Twins 

Denard Span, CF

Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jason Kubel,
DH
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching:
RHP Scott Baker

Angels
Erick Aybar, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Torii Hunter, CF
Hideki Matsui, DH
Kendry Morales, 1B
Juan Rivera, LF
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Brandon Wood, 3B
Jeff Mathis, C

Pitching: RHP Jered Weaver
 

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter 
@kellythesier