PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA. -- Justin Morneau said he hopes to be back in the lineup Thursday. He's been out with general soreness since Saturday but said it is definitely a minor issue.

Glen Perkins will make his first start of the spring for the Twins today, as they take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park.

The Twins are 5-7 this spring. Tampa Bay is 10-3.

(Note: Be sure to check out La Velle's piece on Twins prospects Miguel Angel Sano, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco. It ran exclusively in the Sunday paper but is up on Startribune.com now.)

TWINS

1. Denard Span, CF

2. Nick Punto, 3B

3. Jason Kubel, DH

4. Michael Cuddyer, RF

5. Delmon Young, LF

6. Wilson Ramos, C

7. Luke Hughes, 2B

8. Brock Peterson, 1B

9. Alexi Casilla, SS

Pitching: Glen Perkins, Jeff Manship, Jesse Crain, Anthony Swarzak, Kyle Waldrop, Alex Burnett, Anthony Slama, Rob Delaney.

RAYS

1. Sean Rodriguez, CF

2. Gabe Kapler, RF

3. Evan Longoria, 3B

4. Hank Blalock, DH

5. Kelly Shoppach, C

6. Justin Ruggiano, LF

7. Reid Brignac, 2B

8. Ryan Shealy, 1B

9. Elliot Johnson, SS

Pitching: James Shields, Rafael Soriano, Grant Balfour, Lance Cormier, Joaquin Benoit.

Charlotte Sports Park. First pitch: 12:05 p.m. (Central). No TV. Twins Radio Network

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire had a few injury updates after today's 3-1 loss to the Orioles:

* Joe Nathan will test his right elbow either Saturday, Sunday or Monday, Gardenhire said, adding, "My guess would be more likely the middle day [Sunday]."

* Justin Morneau: Garenhire said, "We’re going to give him a couple more days, make sure he’s got all the soreness out of his ribcage and back, all the general soreness from riding stinking busses and all that stuff. I told him, if there’s any issue, where you get sore at all through your torso or legs -- we’re just going to [pull back]. He’s always played through it, and we’re just going to back off a few days here, and just take it easy, do your light workouts and just take it easy. He’s got plenty of time to get plenty of at-bats."

* J.J. Hardy: Gardenhire said, "Hardy went out and still feels a little something in his leg, so we’re not going to push that issue. There’s just really no need. After that off day the 22nd, we’re going to have a lot of games, plus those two at Target Field for guys to get plenty of at-bats and get deep into the games."

* Nick Blackburn [sore right knee] will throw a bullpen session Friday and pitch in a minor-league game Sunday. Gardenhire said there is still enough time for Blackburn to get his pitch-count up for the start of the season.

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Nick Blackburn said his right knee feels better today. He was scheduled to start Wednesday, and the Twins are pushing that back a couple days, but he said this isn't even as big of a concern as it was last spring, when his knee flared up.

Backup catcher Jose Morales, who is recovering from right wrist surgery, has some right shoulder soreness and won't throw for a few days. A switch-hitter, Morales has been swinging the bat right-handed but is still several days from being able to swing lefthanded. He won't be ready to start the season, but the Twins have known that for weeks.

1. Robert Andino, SS

2. Justin Turner, 2B

3. Nolan Reimold, DH

4. Luke Scott, LF

5. Lou Montanez, RF

6. Scott Moore, 1B

7. Josh Bell, 3B

8. Chad Moeller, C

9. Jeff Salazar, CF

Scheduled pitchers: David Hernandez, Koji Uehara, Dennis Sarafate

TWINS

1. Ben Revere, CF

2. Orlando Hudson, 2B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Michael Cuddyer, 1B

5. Jason Kubel, DH

6. Brendan Harris, SS

7. Danny Valencia, 3B

8. Jacque Jones, LF

9. Juan Portes, RF

Scheduled pitchers: Scott Baker, Mike Maroth, Clay Condrey, Matt Guerrier, Pat Neshek, Rob Delaney, Jose Mijares

Hammond Stadium. First pitch: 12:05 p.m. (Central). No TV. Twins Radio Network

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- Twins closer Joe Nathan was bedridden Saturday and Sunday with a virus and still had a sore throat Monday, but he was in the training room, clinging to hope that he won't need reconstructive elbow surgery.

Nathan said he plans to play catch Saturday and give the elbow a vigorous test.

"When I feel loose -- if I do get loose -- I definitely want to test this thing as much as I can for Day 1 and see how it feels," Nathan said. "This is going to be something where there shouldn’t be a gray area. It’s going to be I feel great, or this just isn’t me, this doesn’t feel right."

The sore throat has made it difficult for Nathan to eat, and he said he's probably lost five to seven pounds. But he viewed the illness as a message from his body that it was time to shut down and get some rest.

Nathan, 35, said he's had time to come to grips with the prospect of having Tommy John surgery, which has a 12-month recovery period.

"A lot of people will probably talk about my age if I do have this surgery, and the only thing I can say -- and I hope it shuts everybody up after the first time they say it -- is that I don’t feel like I’m 35," he said. "I feel like I’m a lot younger than 35. A hundred percent of the people would agree that I probably have less years on my arm than mid-20-year-olds do.

"I didn’t start pitching until I was 24 years old, so right now I have about 11-12 years under my belt of throwing, which is a lot less than a lot of pitchers, so that’s one of the plusses."

Nathan hasn't been on the disabled list since 2000, when he had a shoulder injury with the Giants.

"Whatever happens in my career, I tell everybody you’ve gotta look at the bright side," he said. "For me, if the worst-case does happen, I see it as a chance to prolong my career. I see it as a chance to give myself a new arm and pitch for another five years after this. ... That's the worst-case scenario for me, coming back in 2011 with a brand new arm."

(Note: La Velle is in Jupiter, Fla., covering today's game against the Marlins. Head to his blog for the lineups, etc.)