CLEVELAND — Amid all the changes that came down at the trade deadline today, there's still more news coming tonight: the resumption of Jose Berrios' major-league career. And Paul Molitor admitted he's a little worried about the rookie righthander.
"Part of his MO is, he doesn't always get out of the gate great. He seems to find his rhythm, if he can somehow manage himself through that first or second innings," Molitor said. It's an adjustment that Berrios will make as he gets older, but tonight, with the emotion of his return to the majors, and the energy of a Cleveland crowd that's growing more excited about the likelihood of a postseason appearance, "it's going to be challenging," Molitor said.
Still, the experience Berrios got in May and the success he's had at Class AAA should help calm him. "One thing I noticed about Jose in spring training, there has been a noticeable level of maturity increase," Molitor said. "That helps him, but I'm sure there is a lot of emotion today."
This series will start and finish with pitchers who weren't on the Twins yesterday. Berrios was activated this afternoon after the Fernando Abad trade, and Hector Santiago, the pitcher acquired in the Ricky Nolasco trade just before the deadline, will make his Twins debut Thursday afternoon.
Miguel Sano is out of the lineup today, after a rough weekend at the plate and in the field over the weekend. "I'm trying to get him back on track," Molitor said, so for tonight, Jorge Polanco is at third. Max Kepler moves up to third in the order for the first time.
Here are tonight's lineups for the first of four games at Progressive Field:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
