NEW YORK -- On his Sunday morning radio show (AM-1500), Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Jason Repko will be in the starting lineup today and Justin Morneau will not for today's rubber game against the Mets.
He didn't have the full lineup yet, but I'll post that as soon as possible.
Update: Justin Morneau told Gardenhire this would be a good day for a break, and the Twins are going with Repko in right field, over Jason Kubel, partly because righthanded hitters fare better against Mets starter Jonathon Niese than lefthanders.
Gardenhire said J.J. Hardy (bruised left wrist) could be on track to come off the DL on July 6, when the Twins begin their next road trip in Toronto. Hardy is ready to start taking batting practice with the Twins this week, and Gardenhire said Hardy likely will have a three-game rehab stint in Class AAA Rochester.
Gardenhire said he might have Michael Cuddyer start at third base Monday against Detroit, allowing Jim Thome to DH and Kubel to stay in right field. Cuddyer continues to get more and more comfortable at third, Gardenhire said.
Update: Gardenhire said Alexi Casilla (right elbow surgery) is about one week behind Hardy, but Casilla could have a rehab stint of close to 20 days, since he didn't have many at-bats before his June 4 surgery.
It's sweltering here today. About 82 degrees and very humid. Gardenhire mentioned how Morneau and Kubel have been playing every day on the trip, through the heat, so this will give them a break heading into the Tigers series.
TWINS (41-33)
