CLEVELAND -- Today may be the coldest game the Twins play this season, and that's saying something for a team from Minneapolis. (And yeah, I probably just jinxed it.) It's 36 degrees at Progressive Field at the moment, but that's not the problem. The flags are standing straight out, whipped by a wind that's gusting up to 30-35 degrees.
The cold has already cost the Twins one of their players. Oswaldo Arcia has been batting with a sore right hand for the past few days, a condition he came down with in the batting cage in Chicago earlier this week. Ron Gardenhire noticed him grimacing at the plate last night, but Arcia insists he's OK. The manager, however, is taking no chances, not in the near-freezing temperatures. The Twins suspect he was bothered by a sore hand last year, too, and don't want this to linger.
The result: Jason Kubel is in right field today, for the first time this season. Along with Josh Willingham in left, it's safe to say speed isn't the strong suit of the outfield defense today.
Kyle Gibson will be on the mound for the first time this season, taking possession of that fifth-starters job he won in the spring. The game is on Fox Sports 1.
Here are today's lineups:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Mauer 1B
Willingham LF
Colabello DH
Plouffe 3B
Kubel RF
Pinto C
Hicks CF
Florimon SS
Gibson RHP
INDIANS
Morgan CF
Swisher 1B
Kipnis 2B
Santana DH
Brantley LF
Cabrera SS
Murphy RF
Gomes C
Chisenhall 3B
Carrasco RHP