As expected, Ricky Nolasco will be the Twins' Opening Day starter.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire let that foregone conclusion be known this morning before the Twins-Yankees game in Tampa, when a Yankees writer asked him where Phil Hughes was going to land in the rotation.

Gardenhire wouldn't divulge that information but did say, ``Nolasco is going to start on Opening Day, and we're just going to work it in from there."

It will be Nolasco's third Opening Day assignment, the other two coming in 2009 and last year. Both were against Washington (1-1, 5.25 ERA).

Gardenhire, while nodding toward the Twins Cities writers, playfully jabbed: ``If these guys had any clue they would have already figured this out."

Well Gardy, anyone can count back from Opening Day and see that Nolasco has been on line to pitch that day. And that you had Nolasco, Kevin Correia, Hughes and Mike Pelfrey in order. We were just waiting for the manager to decide to give out this massively essential morsel of information. Thank you. The batting order is next, buddy.

It's a lovely day here at George M. Steinbrenner Field where a split-squad Twins team is facing a split-squad Yankees team.

What's that? The Yankees don't have a split-squad scheduled? You're right. But the Yankees have sent Derek Jeter and some of his Yankee friends down to Panama for a special two-game series against the Marlins. There's some guy from Panama who used to play for the Yankees and is having a party, or something like that.

So the Twins are facing Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann and some other fellows.

By the way, it's 59 degrees here in Tampa - 79 in Panama City.

Pedro Florimon will play three innings in a minor league game today as he works his way back to the major league lineup following surgery to remove his appendix.

The Twins have added three players to the traveling roster today - Eric Farris, Danny Ortiz and Corey Wimberly,

Twins

Aaron Hicks, CF
Brian Dozier, 2B
Jason Kubel, DH
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Chris Colabello, 1B
Wilkin Ramirez, LF
Deibinson Romero, 3B
Josmil Pinto, C
Danny Santana, SS

Pitching: Kyle Gibson, with Ryan Pressly, Kris Johnson, Caleb Thielbar, Aaron Thompson, Deolis Guerra and Sean Gilmartin also on the list.

Yanks

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Brian Roberts, 2B
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Brian McCann, C
Eduardado Nunez, SS
Russ Canzler.B
Ramon Flores, LF
Pete O'Brien, DH
Mason Williams, RF

David Phelps, RHP