SARASOTA, Fla. — Byron Buxton tried to get back in uniform on Thursday, but when he arrived in the Twins' clubhouse, the training staff sent him home.

"Sounds like the flu, with the symptoms he described," manager Paul Molitor said of his rookie center fielder. Molitor called Buxton this morning to check on him, and "he came in, but they got him out rather quickly," Molitor said, to avoid allowing his illness to spread.

Molitor is optimistic that Buxton could return tomorrow and perhaps play again by Saturday, but "I'll have to consult my medical book," he joked. It's costing Buxton at-bats and playing time, but will play no role, the manager said, in any decision about whether he ultimately makes the team at the end of the month.

With Buxton out, Max Kepler will start in center field, batting seventh. And Class A outfielder Edgar Corcino, who spent last season at Cedar Rapids, was brought along to get some late-inning action.

Taylor Rogers gets his first start in a Twins uniform today, and while it's just a Grapefruit League game and he's only scheduled to pitch two innings, the left-hander admitted he's excited to have the opportunity.

Here are the lineups for the final night game of the Twins' Florida schedule:

TWINS

Polanco 2B

Nunez SS

Sano RF

Quentin DH

Rosario LF

Park 1B

Kepler CF

Murphy C

Tovar 3B

Rogers LHP

ORIOLES

Machado 3B

Jones CF

Davis 1B

Trumbo RF

Alvarez DH

Hardy SS

Schoop 2B

Kim LF

Joseph C

Wright RHP