Well, there should be plenty to talk about today at Target Field, where the Twins and Rays will play a day-night doubleheader, with scheduled start times at 12:10 p.m., and 7:10 p.m.

Manager Ron Gardenhire will have his first session with the media at 10:15 a.m., and we'll see how he starts to cobble together two lineups from his oft-injured squad.

Click back here throughout the day for updates. As La Velle would say, "pack a lunch." Actually, pack a lunch, a dinner and a sleeping bag.

Update: Head trainer Rick McWane joined Gardenhire for his pregame session today, since there has been a lot of injury news to report, and they want to present it as accurately as possible.

* Jim Thome (slight oblique issue) is close to returning, McWane said, and will take some swings today in the cage. Probably won't play in the doubleheader, though.

* Jason Repko (sore left quad) feels a lot better and is available to play today off the bench.

* Tsuyoshi Nishioka (broken left fibula) is progressing really well. He'll have a follow-up X-ray on Friday and team is just checking to be sure he's ready to start ramping up his rehab program.

* Joe Mauer -- I'll have more on this in a separate post, but McWane said Mauer is feeling much better, getting stronger and will meet with team doctors today to talk about the next step in his recovery program.

Quick fact:

Jason Kubel has a nine-game hitting streak and has hits in 13 of his past 14 games.

Looking ahead: The scheduled pitching matchup for Game 2 is RH Anthony Swarzak vs. RH Jeff Niemann.

RAYS (12-11)
1. Sam Fuld, LF
2. Johnny Damon, DH
3. B.J. Upton, CF
4. Matt Joyce, RF
5. Ben Zobrist, 2B
6. Sean Rodriguez, 3B
7. Kelly Shoppach, C
8. Casey Kotchman, 1B
9. Reid Brignac, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Jeremy Hellickson (1-2, 4.32 ERA)

TWINS (9-13)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, SS
3. Jason Kubel, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Danny Valencia, 3B
7. Rene Tosoni, LF
8. Steve Holm, C
9. Luke Hughes, 2B

Starting pitcher: Nick Blackburn (1-3, 4.01 ERA)

Target Field. First pitch: 12:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network