Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco and Trevor Plouffe all took grounders early this afternoon as they prepare to face the Astros at Target Field. Sano is the designated hitter tonight but was out there looking to improve his defense.

Plouffe is off the DL and is starting at third. Polanco at short. And manager Paul Molitor has another daily decision to make.

Plouffe's return adds to the logjam at third with Sano and Polanco. Polanco is batting .364 in eight games since being called up, and the Twins want to see as much of him as possible. That could bump Sano or Plouffe to DH - and leave someone out of the lineup entirely. One way to solve the problem is to look at Polanco at short, where is at tonight - but the organization is of the belief that shortstop is not his best position.

Molitor also said that Plouffe could play some first base too. All that does is put him in the mix with Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas.

Trying to predict Molitor's lineups will be like hitting a moving target - one moving at supersonic speed.

Both Mauer and Kepler were named co-AL players of the week after they destroyed pitching in Cleveland and Tampa Bay last week. Kepler was do dominant that the Indians intentionally walked him during Wednesday's game. Mauer has put 22 points on his batting average by hitting .486 over his last 11 games.

It will be a curveball contest tonight as Tyler Duffey faces Collin McHugh. Duffey is trying to win his second straight start. McHugh might have the best curve in the league. Duffey's isn't bad either, especially when he he throws it for strikes.

Molior was able to get a message to Ichiro Suzuki to congratulate him for his 3,000th career hit. The two have been friends since Molitor was Suzuki's hitting coach in Seattle for a season.

And, like Molitor,. Suzuki got a triple for his 3,000th hit.

``That makes it kind of special," Molitor said. ``Kind of a little bond we developed 12 years ago," he said. ``We can stay connected with that triple as well."


Astros

Tony Kemp, DH
Alex Bregman, 3B
George Springer, RF
Carlos Correia, SS
Evan Gattis, C
Marwin Gonzalez, 2B
A.J. Reed, 1B
Go-Go, CF
Jake Marisnick, KF

Twins

Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Max Kepler, RF
Miguel Sano, DH
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Eddie Rosario, CF
Jorge Polanco, SS
Juan Centeno, C
Danny Santana, LF

Tyler Duffey, RHP

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