A familiar foe for Twins starter, sort of

When P.J. Walters makes his first start for the Twins on Saturday night, he will be facing his former team, but don't expect an emotional reunion with the Blue Jays.

Walters spent one whirlwind day in Toronto last summer after getting traded from the Cardinals in the eight-player deal that also sent Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays for Edwin Jackson, Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski.

The trade happened July 27. Walters arrived the next day, making a scoreless, one-inning relief appearance before getting sent to Class AAA Las Vegas that night. Now he is back in the big leagues, after getting promoted from Class AAA Rochester to take Francisco Liriano's spot in the Twins starting rotation.

Walters went 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in six starts for Rochester. With a fastball that sits at about 88-89 miles per hour, he's not overpowering, but he did rack up 25 strikeouts with only six walks in 33 1/3 innings for the Red Wings.

"Besides [Scott] Diamond, he's the one they were talking about as a guy that gives you a chance," General Manager Terry Ryan said.

Walters, 27, didn't spend long with the Blue Jays, but he does have a bond with Toronto first baseman Adam Lind. They both played for the University of Southern Alabama. Lind was a standout hitter there before the Blue Jays signed him as a third-round pick in the 2004 draft. Two years later, the Cardinals signed Walters as an 11th-round pick.

"[Lind] helped us win a lot of games there," Walters said.

"Joe goes up there with a pretty good plan of what he's going to do," Gardenhire said. "I don't think he looks around and tries to change the way he hits. They can play whatever type of shift they want to, and that's up to them, but I'll take my chances with that guy."

Gardenhire did think the Blue Jays' exaggerated shift affected Ryan Doumit in the series opener.

"Each hitter has to go up there with a plan," Gardenhire said. "With Dooms, you saw a really big shift, and he was trying to drop bunts down. It's good every once in a while to do that and make them move back around, but I think he got out of his element a little bit."

Etc. • Justin Morneau (sore left wrist) is eligible to return from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday. The slugger had a cortisone shot this week, and the Twins hope he can start swinging a bat again Saturday or Sunday.

• Righthander Jason Marquis headed home to New York to attend the first communion for his 7-year-old daughter, Reese, who has recovered from a serious bicycle accident two months ago. Marquis started Thursday's game, and his next start is scheduled for Wednesday.