By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — The buzz has been building in the Twin Cities all day and no, it’s not about the fact that Randy Moss is now back with the Vikings.

Tonight, the Twins officially host the first playoff game at Target Field and the storyline is set with the vaunted Yankees as the opponent. So the Twin will try to see if they can end this streak of three postseason series losses to the Yankees and head back to the ALCS for the first time since 2002.

Big news of the day was that the roster has now been set. Both Jon Rauch and Scott Baker made the roster while Kevin Slowey was left off. Rauch’s left knee is well enough for him to pitch and Gardy said that they liked Baker’s ability to strike out the Yankees over Slowey’s pitch-to-contact stuff at least for this series.

And now it’s up to the Twins to see if they can make a statement in Game 1. To me, this seems to be one of the most confident Twins teams that I’ve seen in my five years on the beat. Of course it helps that this is the first time over that span they’ve been able to rest their team and set up the rotation for the postseason. Will it make a difference? Starting tonight, we’ll see.

Yankees (0-0)

Derek Jeter, SS

Nick Swisher, RF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Marcus Thames, DH
Jorge Posada, C
Curtis Granderson, CF
Brett Gardner, LF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia

(21-7, 3.18 ERA this season)

Twins

(0-0)

Denard Span, CF

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

Pitching: LHP Francisco Liriano

(14-10, 3.62 ERA this season)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — It’s an absolutely beautiful early evening here at Target Field as the Twins try to pick up a win against the Yankees and try to prevent a sweep like they did a little less than two weeks ago in the Bronx.

The club will be taking on right-hander Javier Vazquez, who is a familiar opponent considering the time he spent with the White Sox.

Alexi Casilla gets the start at third base tonight. Nick Punto (sore left ring finger) took some swings in the cage and took ground balls, doing his normal pre-game routine. So Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Punto should be in the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Rangers.

The Twins players also enjoyed a little pre-batting practice action on the field as a group of hockey players stopped by to get in some hitting of their own. Among the players on hand were Mark Parrish, Andrew Brunette, Nick Schultz, and Derek Boogaard. When asked whether any of the players could consider a baseball career if the hockey thing doesn’t work out, Gardenhire joked that Boogaard could hang out on the Twins bench and act as the club’s enforcer for any on-field altercations.

Yankees (26-18)
Derek
Jeter, SS
Brett Gardner, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez,
3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Juan Miranda, DH
Francisco
Cervelli, C
Kevin Russo, LF
Pitching: RHP Javier Vazquez (3-4, 6.69 ERA)

Twins

(26-20)
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
Alexi Casilla, 3B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (5-1, 4.50 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — Shortstop J.J. Hardy returns to the lineup tonight for the Twins.

Hardy said his left wrist is still not 100 percent, that there is some residual pain but it’s manageable. Over the past few days, he’s been testing the wrist as much as he can (“trying to injure it,” he joked) to make sure that he’s ready to go. And he feels like he is so the Twins get their everyday shortstop back.

To make room for Hardy, the Twins have optioned shortstop Trevor Plouffe back to Triple-A Rochester.

The Twins will still be a little short in their infield depth on Tuesday, as Nick Punto’s left ring finger is still sore after he got a cortisone injection on Sunday. Punto can’t hit tonight and probably can’t field, but he is available to pinch run. And the expectation is that he’ll be ready within a couple days to return.

Yankees (26-18)
Derek Jeter, SS
Brett Gardner, CF
Mark Teixeira, DH
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Juan Miranda, 1B
Francisco Cervelli, C
Kevin Russo, LF
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (4-2, 3.86 ERA)

Twins

(26-18)
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
Brendan Harris, 3B
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker (4-4, 4.88 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

NEW YORK — The Twins are trying to avoid getting swept in the Bronx for the third straight season as Nick Blackburn takes the mound for the Twins against the Yankees on Sunday afternoon.

Sorry for the lack of lineups yesterday. I got a little swamped with some other work stuff.

As for news today, Matt Tolbert is getting the start at third because manager Ron Gardenhire wanted to give him some playing time. Nick Punto is just fine.

Twins

(22-14)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jim Thomel, DH
Jason Kubel, LF
Alexi Casilla, SS
Matt Tolbert, 3B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (3-1, 4.76
ERA)

Yankees (24-12)
Derek
Jeter, DH
Brett Gardner, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez,
3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Jorge Posada, C
Marcus Thames, RF
Randy Winn, LF
Ramiro Pena, SS
Pitching: RHP Sergio Mitre (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

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By: Kelly Thesier/MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins already seem to be sick of talking about their lack of success in New York (3-23 in the regular season since 2002 and 0-6 last year here including two playoff losses).

But of course the best way to dispel some of the talk would be for Minnesota to take tonight’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.

Twins

(22-12)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando
Hudson, 2B
Joe Mauer, C
Justin Morneau, 1B
Michael Cuddyer, RF
Jason
Kubel, DH
Delmon Young, LF
Alexi Casilla, SS
Nick Punto, 3B
Pitching: RHP Scott Baker (4-2, 4.47
ERA)

Yankees (22-12)
Derek Jeter, SS
Brett Gardner, CF
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Alex Rodriguez, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nick Swisher, RF
Marcus Thames, LF
Juan Miranda, DH
Francisco Cervelli, C
Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (4-1, 3.40 ERA)

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Yankees (2-0)
Derek Jeter, SS

Johnny Damon, LF

Mark Teixeira, 1B

Alex Rodriguez, 3B

Hideki Matsui, DH

Jorge Posada, C

Robinson Cano, 2B

Nick Swisher, RF
Melky Cabrera

Pitching: LHP Andy Pettitte (14-8, 4.16)

Twins (0-2)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Jason Kubel, RF
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, 3B
Jose Morales, DH
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Carl Pavano (14-12, 5.10)

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Twins manager Ron Gardenhire shuffled his lineup as expected, starting Carlos Gomez in center field with Denard Span in right and Jason Kubel as the DH.

Gardenhire joked in his press conference that Gomez “irritates people. Sometimes me.” He was teasing, but the Twins are hoping that Gomez can help add a little speed to their lineup. Gardenhire said he also thought it would help not to have Kubel in the outfield in case of rain tonight. So the skipper will have his better defensive outfield out there tonight.

Due to the changes, Jose Morales will not be in the starting lineup. While Morales looked a little overwhelmed during his first two at-bats in the tie-breaker game at the Metrodome on Tuesday, Gardenhire said that he’s not afraid to use Morales as a pinch-hitter tonight.

Jesse Crain reported to Gardenhire that his sore groin felt good today. But the club won’t really know if he’s available until he plays catch during batting practice.

Twins (0-1)
Denard Span, RF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, DH
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Carlos Gomez, CF
Matt Tolbert, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: RHP Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03)

Yankees (1-0)
Derek Jeter, SS

Johnny Damon, LF

Mark Teixeira, 1B

Alex Rodriguez, 3B

Hideki Matsui, DH

Nick Swisher, RF

Robinson Cano, 2B

Melky Cabrera, CF
Jose Molina, C

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier

Twins (87-76)
Denard Span, CF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Joe Mauer, C
Jason Kubel, RF
Michael Cuddyer, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Brendan Harris, DH
Matt Tolbert, 3B
Nick Punto, 2B
Pitching: LHP Brian Duensing (5-2, .364)

Yankees (103-59)
Derek Jeter, SS

Johnny Damon, LF

Mark Teixeira, 1B

Alex Rodriguez, 3B

Hideki Matsui, DH

Jorge Posada, C

Robinson Cano, 2B

Nick Swisher, RF

Melky Cabrera, CF

Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.37)

A reminder you can follow me on Twitter  @kellythesier