The game will not be made up in a doubleheader Sunday, the series finale with the Indians. Instead the teams will play a split doubleheader on Sept. 14 when the Indians come to town for what was previously scheduled to be a quick two-game series. The first game will be played at 1:10 p.m., with the second game starting at 6:40.
The rainout gives Minnesota its second day off in four days and provides a little extra rest as the Twins are set to play 15 days straight leading into the All-Star break on July 12.
Kenta Maeda, who was scheduled to start Saturday, will now pitch Monday on the road against the Chicago White Sox. J.A. Happ will pitch on regular rest Sunday. Bailey Ober and Jose Berrios will both have their starts pushed back one day.
The Twins decided to keep the left-handed Happ on schedule in hopes of maximizing his performance against a lefty-heavy Indians lineup. It also allows Maeda to pitch in a night game, which Baldelli said is a “slight preference” over having him pitch a day game.
Cleveland starter and former Mounds View, Minnesota, star Sam Hentges, who was scheduled to make his first career start in his home state on Saturday, will pitch Sunday. Hentges had roughly 35 family and friends expected to attend Saturday’s game.
Sano’s (almost) return
Miguel Sano was scheduled to be back in the lineup Saturday after sitting out the past two games. It was the first time he sat in back-to-back games since he returned from a right hamstring strain in early May.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli pointed to an influx of “good and young” left-handed hitters that has made it difficult to find at-bats for everyone. Baldelli said he had a short conversation with Sano about the team’s plans to switch the lineups around.
“It’s been harder to get everyone in the lineup, and (Sano) has taken on some of that, maybe more than some other guys. But he’s still going to get his opportunities and at-bats,” Baldelli said. “No one is pumped up about losing some of their at-bats. But he fully understands the situation, and he’ll be ready to go.”
Sano is batting .193 in 197 at-bats this season with 14 home runs, 11 of which have come against right-handed pitching.
Pineda update
Michael Pineda pitched a simulated game on Saturday morning at Target Field as he continues his recovery from a right forearm injury. Baldelli said Pineda felt “very good” about how he threw the ball. As a result, Pineda will make a rehab start with the St. Paul Saints sometime next week and will rejoin the team after that, if all goes well.
“Having a start over in St. Paul that he can go out there, build himself up in, and kind of feel things out a little bit, too, as he comes back will be good. Hopefully it will allow him a little more confidence too when he comes back and takes the mound,” Baldelli said.
That, for the time being, leaves an open slot in the rotation. The Twins opted for a bullpen game Friday instead of naming a full starter. Baldelli said the team has not made a decision on if it will employ that strategy again or name a more traditional starter for that opening, which is scheduled to come up next on July 1 against the White Sox.
The Twins used five pitchers Friday, with Danny Coulombe getting the first start of his career. Coulombe lasted just 1M innings before Griffin Jax replaced him and pitched 4L to secure the first win of his career. Alex Colome, Taylor Rogers and Hansel Robles also pitched.
Gordon performing in new role
Nick Gordon had another solid game in Friday’s 8-7 victory, going 2 for 4 with a double. He singled in the sixth inning and came around to score on Luis Arraez’s game-winning double.
Gordon is batting .333 in 45 at-bats this season and has provided depth in the outfield despite playing mostly infield throughout his minor league career.
“He’s done a lot for us in a very short period of time, and he’s been very impressive,” Baldelli said.
Gordon has had to adjust to not being an everyday player, which he had done pretty exclusively throughout his minor league career.
“(I) really just stay to my routine,” Gordon said. “Not trying to do too much. Not trying to think too much. If I was playing every day, I’d still be doing those things, and just kind of keeping myself going and just really keeping my head in it and focusing.”
Baby on the way
Baldelli and his fiance are expecting their first child, a girl, in September, Baldelli announced Saturday.
“There’s really not anything more than that me and Ally are looking forward to in life than this I’ve been told, and I assume and know, that it’s probably going to change a lot of things, but all for the better,” he said. “… It’ll be a great time.”
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Twins get break before busy stretch - Pine Journal
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