Twins

(40-31)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, 3B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Nick
Punto, SS
Drew Butera, C
Nick Blackburn, P
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn
(6-4, 5.80 ERA)

Brewers
(31-40)
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Corey Hart, RF
Prince
Fielder, 1B
Ryan Braun, LF
Casey McGehee, 3B
Jim Edmonds, CF
Jonathan

Lucroy, C
Craig Counsell, SS
Yovani Gallardo, P

Pitching: RHP Yovani Gallardo (6-3, 2.59 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MILWAUKEE — The Twins lineup looked a little different on Wednesday, as Michael Cuddyer moved to third and Jason Kubel was back in the lineup in right field against left-hander Manny Parra.

I’ll have more later. For now, here are the lineups:

Twins

(40-30)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, 3B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Nick
Punto, SS
Francisco Liriano, P
Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano
(6-4, 2.98 ERA)

Brewers
(30-40)
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Corey Hart, RF
Prince
Fielder, 1B
Ryan Braun, LF
Casey McGehee, 3B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Jonathan
Lucroy, C
Alcides Escobar, SS
Manny Parra, LHP

Pitching: LHP Manny Parra (1-5, 3.91 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MILWAUKEE — Greetings from Miller Park and after missing the Phillies series this weekend, I’m back with the Twins for the rest of this Interleague roadtrip.

Tonight’s contest will mark the second and final series between the Twins and Brewers this season. The Twins took two of three in Minnesota last month without former Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy in the lineup and they’ll have to be without him again for this tilt.

Hardy didn’t make the trip to Milwaukee. He’s back in Minnesota as he rehabs from the bone bruise in his left wrist. But the good news is that Hardy has been taking swings off the tee and has not reported any of his symptoms worsening in his wrist. Still, it’s unclear exactly when he’ll be back for the club. Manager Ron Gardenhire reiterated that the club will wait until Hardy doesn’t have any pain in his wrist to make sure the bone bruise is healed this time before he returns.

Twins

(40-29)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Danny Valencia, 3B
Nick
Punto, SS
Scott Baker, P
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker
(6-5, 4.41 ERA)

Brewers (29-40)
Rickie Weeks, 2B
Corey Hart, RF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Ryan Braun, LF
Casey McGehee, 3B
Jim Edmonds, CF
Jonathan Lucroy, C
Alcides Escobar, SS
Chris Narveson, LHP

Pitching: LHP Chris Narveson (5-4, 5.79 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins will try to wrap up their series against the Brewers on Sunday afternoon and they’ll do so facing right-hander Marco Estrada.

Manny Parra had originally been scheduled to start for Milwaukee but the Brewers turned to him for the 11th and 12th innings in Saturday’s 8-7 win for the Twins. Estrada actually pitched in the sixth inning on Saturday as well, facing four batters. So it will be a pieced together effort by Milwaukee for the finale.

The Twins will be without a few guys in their lineup. Joe Mauer is getting a “day off” as he’s not starting behind the plate but he’ll be available to pinch hit late in the game. Nick Punto has a sore left ring finger and will be getting a cortisone shot today, but he said he should be ready to be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

Second baseman Orlando Hudson continued to show that it will take a lot to keep him out of the lineup. After suffering a bruised right elbow when he was hit by a pickoff throw in the seventh inning, Hudson is back in the starting lineup today as his elbow feels much better.

Also, it’s looking more and more like shortstop J.J. Hardy will be ready to be activated from the disabled list on Tuesday for the start of the Yankees series. Hardy took batting practice in the cage on Sunday morning at 100 percent and said his wrist didn’t hurt too badly afterward.

The plan is to have Hardy come in on Monday’s off day and get a work out in. Then if everything goes well during early batting practice on Tuesday, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Hardy could be activated for the contest.

Funny moment of the day. There was a picture of a football player with his arm in the air and his finger pointed hanging next to the lineup today. Denard Span’s head had been taped on the photo — a reference to Span’s premature home run celebration in the ninth inning on Saturday. He’s certainly take some grief for that.
 
Brewers (16-27)
Rickie
Weeks,
2B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Casey
McGehee, DH
Corey Hart, RF
Craig Counsell, 3B
Alcides Escobar, SS
George
Kottaras, C
Pitching: RHP Marco Estrada (0-0, 6.23 ERA)

Twins

(26-17)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, 3B
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Drew Butera, C
Pitching: RHP
Carl Pavano (4-4, 4.11 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — As the old saying goes, if something isn’t broke don’t fix it.

The same goes for the Twins lineup.

One day after scoring 15 runs against the Brewers, the Twins are running out the same lineup as they get set to face Milwaukee’s ace Yovani Gallardo.

Shortstop Trevor Plouffe will get his second straight start for the Twins. Plouffe said he received plenty of texts and phone calls following his strong Major League debut in which went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. His family has flown in from California and will be here for today’s contest.

Infielder Alexi Casilla said his sore right elbow is feeling better today. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that the MRI on Casilla’s elbow showed some irritation from an old bone spur and a few loose bodies. But while his arm is still a little sore, Casilla will be available if needed today.

As for a more definitive timetable on shortstop J.J. Hardy, Gardenhire said he still doesn’t have an exact date although the club is still hoping to have him ready for Tuesday’s game.

Brewers (16-26)
Rickie Weeks,
2B
Carlos Gomez, CF
Ryan Braun, DH
Prince Fielder, 1B
Casey
McGehee, 3B
Corey Hart, RF
Joe Inglett, LF
Alcides Escobar, SS
George Kottaras, C
Pitching: RHP Yovani Gallardo (4-2, 2.89 ERA)

Twins

(25-17)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Trevor Plouffe, SS
Nick
Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Kevin Slowey (5-3, 4.70 ERA)

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