Game is delayed, and now scheduled for 1:05 p.m. as the Twins prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in the final of a three-game series at Target Field.
Not the greatest day for LaMonte Wade Jr. to wear a major league uniform for the first time.
Wade has been called up to support a banged up Twins outfield, and Willians Astudillo is going on the injured list because of a left oblique strain. Astudillo was patrolling the outfield in the Twins' victory on Wednesday, which featured some Nelson Cruz heroics.
Wade, a University of Maryland product, was batting .248 with 5 homers and 24 RBI in 70 games for the Red Wings. He does have 51 walks in those 70 games. The 25-year-old corner outfielder was a ninth round choice in 2015 ... here's a Reusse column on him from spring training.
Astudillo is hitting .263 with three home runs and 13 RBI in 39 games for the Twins. Astudillo injured himself during his last at bat on Wednesday. Oblique strains can become an issue if aggravated, so I expect the Twins to be very careful with him.
Max Kepler will tough it out today, starting despite a bruised right elbow.
The Twins haven't swept the Rays in a series since 2006, when Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was playing for the (Devil) Rays.
Byron Buxton was supposed to hit on the field today, which won't happen. That session has been moved indoors. But it sounds like there's a good chance that he will be activated either before or during the White Sox series. Baldelli said there have been conversations about sending Buxton on a rehab assignment, But given Rosario's situation, the Twins might want to get him back in their outfield ASAP.
