Danny Santana is back at the top of the order as the Twins prepare to take on the Pirates at beautiful PNC Park.

Don't expect the switch to be permanent, though. As Twins manager Paul Molitor went through his options, he didn't like how the middle of the order looked without being able to plug in a DH

``If I left the top (of the order) alone it was (the fifth and sixth spots) where I was struggling to fill those," he said.

Eduardo Nunez (left oblique) has been activated and could be a valuable piece for Molitor to use in the two games here.

At least when the Twins strategize for a division opponent, they have plenty of history to go on.

That's not the case in interleague play. The Twins, a few years ago, stopped sending advance scouts on the road and prepare for teams with the use of video.

They were pretty busy preparing for Pittsburgh because the Pirates have several pull hitters, so look for the shift to be a weapon.

``That's when you have to have faith on what you see on paper because you don't have the eye-to-eye experience," Molitor said.

``It's a lot of work for the coaching staff for two games."

Another former Twin, Vance Worley, was in line to start Tuesday but was demoted to the bullpen over the weekend.


Twins

Danny Santana, SS
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Torii Hunter, RF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Aaron Hicks, CF
Shane Robinson, LF
Ricky Nolasco, RHP


Pirates

Gregory Polanco, RF
Neal Walker, 2B
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Sterling Marte, LF
Jung Ho Kang, SS
Pedro Alvarez, 1B
Josh Harrison, 3B
Francisco Cervelli, C
Francisco Liriano, LHP