On the 15th game, the manager rested.

For the first time this season, Twins manager Paul Molitor penciled a lineup he's already used. In this case, it's the same lineup as Tuesday when the Twins lost to Cleveland. So Miguel Sano is batting third and Max Kepler is back in the cleanup spot. Molitor said he likes Sano getting an at-bat in the first inning. I call it the Frank Thomas role. The Big Hurt batted third for the White Sox for years because they had a chance to be up 1-0 in first inning. And Sano has taken good at bats since the season started.

Molitor is getting more information to make lineup decisions, some of it from coach Jeff Pickler. One thing that Molitor is paying attention to more is what his players strengths are versus a certain pitcher. Like if one of his hitters can handle a slider against a pitcher with a good slider. It's not his only guide, but its something else he considers when he writes out a lineup.

Let's see how the lineup works against Trevor Bauer. Bauer is known for damaging his pitching hand while handling a drone and bleeding all over himself and the mound when he tried to pitch in the playoffs. The Reno Aces, one of Bauer's minor league teams, is having a Bauer drone bobblehead giveaway this season.

Thanks to the rainout on Wednesday, this has become a three-game series. So Ervin Santana will try to go 4-0 and stop the Twins from being swept.

Lefthander Ryan O'Rourke is in town and is about to have a second opinion on his elbow. He's out with a strain of the flexor pronator mass near his elbow. The initial MRI revealed the inflammation and no structural damage. But O'Rourke still feels discomfort. He's frustrated and wants answers.

Lefthander Adalberto Mejia, whose start was washed out Wednesday, will pitch on Saturday against Detroit.

Indians

Carlos Santana, 1B
Francisco Lindor, SS
Michael Brantley, LF
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Jose Ramirez, 2B
Lonnie Chisenhall, CF
Yandy Diaz, 3B
Abraham Almonte, RF
Roberto Perez, C

Trevor Bauer, RHP


Twins

Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Miguel Sano, 3B
Max Kepler, RF
Robbie Grossman, DH
Jason Castro, C
Jorge Polanco, SS
Eddie Rosario, LF
Byron Buxton, CF

Ervin Santana, RHP