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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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ARLINGTON — The Twins added a lefty to their bullpen on Wednesday, claiming left-hander Randy Flores off waivers from the Rockies.

Flores was 2-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 47 games with Colorado this season. He was designated for assignment by the Rockies on Friday. Opponents are hitting just .224 off of Flores this season, but he has allowed 22 hits
and 13 walks in 47 appearances.

To make room for Flores on the 40-man roster, the Twins transferred left-hander Ron Mahay to the 60-day disabled list. Flores isn’t expected to join the Twins in time for Wednesday night’s game so a corresponding roster move to put Flores on the 25-man roster will be made after the contest. It’s likely that reliever Anthony Slama will be headed back to Triple-A Rochester.

The Twins are set to face left-hander C.J. Wilson tonight. It’s the first of four left-handed starters the club will see in the next five games — Cliff Lee on Thurs., Mariners’ lefty Jason Varags on Fri and Luke French on Sun.

Jim Thome had originally been slotted as the DH in tonight’s contest but he’s still sore after getting hit with a 97 mph fastball from Rangers closer Neftali Feliz in the ninth inning on Tuesday. Thome said he tried to run this afternoon and his leg was just too sore. So Jason Kubel will DH and Jason Repko is playing right field tonight.

Twins

(72-54)

Denard Span, CF

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

Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing

(7-1, 1.92 ERA)

Rangers
(71-54)

Elvis Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Josh Hamilton, LF
Vladimir
Guerrero, DH
Bengie Molina, C
Mitch Moreland, RF
Jorge Cantu, 1B
Andres Blanco, 2B
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: LHP C.J. Wilson (12-5, 3.02 ERA)
 

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ARLINGTON — After nearly getting no-hit by the Rangers pitching staff on Monday night, the Twins will try to see if they can get the bats going at the Ballpark in Arlington tonight against right-hander Colby Lewis.

With Carl Pavano on the mound, Drew Butera is catching tonight and Joe Mauer is in the DH slot. That leaves Jim Thome on the bench. Thome is 4-for-6 with a home run off Lewis in his career. Still, there are very few numbers against Lewis. The only other that stands out is Orlando Hudson who is 4-for-7 off the right-hander.

Twins

(72-53)

Denard Span, CF

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

Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano

(15-8, 3.52 ERA)

Rangers
(70-54)

Elvis Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Josh Hamilton, LF
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
David Murphy, RF
Bengie Molina, C
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Andres Blanco, 2B
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: RHP Colby Lewis (9-10, 3.37 ERA)
 

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

ARLINGTON — There is only one way to describe the weather here in Texas — HOT.

As you can see in the picture, when I drove to the ballpark today the temperature in my rental car read 110 degrees. So yes, it will be a steamy one tonight when the Twins square off against the AL West-leading Rangers.

The Twins did not get good news from the MRI on Ron Mahay’s right shoulder today. Mahay has a torn rotator cuff that he suffered in the awkward fall he took in Saturday’s game when the lefty stumbled off the mound trying to field a squibbler in the infield. It’s not Mahay’s pitching shoulder but he could need surgery to fix the problem and that means his 2010 season may be over. The Twins are still determining their next course of action for Mahay.

Better news for the team when it comes to Kevin Slowey, who just has a mild strain of the triceps muscle in his right arm. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that the MRI on Slowey’s right triceps didn’t show too bad of a strain so that’s positive news. But they’ll take their time with Slowey’s recovery as they’ve got two weeks while he’s on the DL.

Here are the lineups:

 Twins

(72-52)

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: RHP Nick Blackburn

(7-7, 6.66 ERA)

Rangers (69-54)

Elvis Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Josh Hamilton, LF
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
David Murphy, RF
Matt Treanor, C
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Andres Blanco, 2B
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: RHP Rich Harden (4-4, 5.45 ERA)
 

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Baker takes the mound for the Twins in tonight’s ESPN Sunday night game as they try to cap off the series with a sweep over the Rangers.

Note, the game will air on ESPN and not ESPN2 as originally scheduled.

For now, here are the lineups.

Rangers (26-23)
Elvis

Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Vladimir
Guerrero, DH
Josh Hamilton, LF
David Murphy, RF
Justin Smoak,
1B
Matt Treanor, C
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: LHP Derek Holland (2-0, 2.95 ERA)

Twins

(29-20)
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 (4-4, 4.48 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Today is one of those days when I used to despise going into the Metrodome.

The sun is shining on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon in the Twin Cities with temperatures expected to hit the high 80s. You can’t help but to smile as you head into Target Field on a day like this and realize what you’ve been missing during day baseball games in recent years. And yes, I know I’ve been focused on a lot on the weather since the season started but I’m making up for the previous four years I’ve been on the beat when I missed out on the beautiful Minnesota summers.

All right, back to baseball. Justin Morneau is getting a DH day. Nothing of concern, he just asked manager Ron Gardenhire if the DH spot was open today and both felt it would be a good day to give him a break from playing the field.

Nick Punto’s ring finger has been a little sore when he’s swinging from the right side so Gardenhire started Brendan Harris at third base today against Rangers left-handed starter C.J. Wilson.

This isn’t the first time the Twins have faced Wilson, but the southpaw is in a new role now. The former closer moved into the rotation at the start of this year. He has been tough on lefties, who are batting just .102 against him this season, so it will be interesting to see how the Twins’ lefties fare against him. Joe Mauer and Morneau have combined to tally just three hits and one home run in 21 at-bats against Wilson, although all of those did come when he was in a relief role.
 
Rangers (26-22)
Elvis
Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Vladimir
Guerrero, DH
Josh Hamilton, LF
David Murphy, RF
Justin Smoak,
1B
Max Ramirez, C
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: LHP C.J. Wilson (3-2, 3.07 ERA)

Twins

(28-20)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, DH
Michael

Cuddyer, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Brendan Harris, 3B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (4-5,
4.17 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Nick Punto makes his return to the Twins lineup tonight after being sidelined with a sore ring finger as his club opens up a three-game series with the Rangers tonight.

Punto took early batting practice on Friday afternoon and got through it fine, so Gardenhire said he slotted him back in the lineup.

Kevin Slowey is on the mound for Minnesota and will see if he can get out of his season-long streak of running his pitch count up early in contests. Only once in Slowey’s nine starts has he lasted longer than 5 2/3 innings, which came in an eight-inning gem against the Indians on April 20.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was asked about Slowey’s inability to pitch deep into games before Friday’s contest and said the key will be for the right-hander to stop trying to make the “perfect pitch.”

“I’d like to see him pitch to more contact and get hitters to swing earlier in the count,” Gardenhire said. “To get some quicker innings and quicker outs instead of having 15 and 20 pitches every inning. It’s just about throwing quality pitches down in the zone and pitching to contact earlier in the game, and that will get you deeper in the game.”

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Rangers (26-21)
Elvis Andrus, SS
Michael Young, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Josh Hamilton, LF
David Murphy, RF
Justin Smoak, 1B
Max Ramirez, C
Julio Borbon, CF
Pitching: RHP Colby Lewis (4-2, 3.45 ERA)

Twins

(27-20)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Jim Thome, DH
Michael
Cuddyer,
RF
Jason Kubel, LF
J.J. Hardy, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Kevin Slowey (5-3,
4.53 ERA)

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