BALTIMORE -- Twins pitcher Liam Hendriks, who was scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Orioles, has food poisoning, so Anthony Swarzak will start in his place.
Hendriks became ill on Friday night, after the season opener, and was taken to a local hospital. He's expected to be released in the morning.
The Twins are glad they had Swarzak stretch out his arm as a starter during spring training because the hits keep coming.
Meanwhile, Jason Marquis had a good outing for Class AA New Britain today, using 75 pitches to go six innings, and allowing one run on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts. GM Terry Ryan said Marquis will make another start for New Britain in five days, which suggests the righthander won't be ready to start for the Twins on April 15, the first time they needed a No. 5 starter.
TONIGHT'S GAME
Francisco Liriano makes his season debut tonight, as the Twins try to bounce back from the 4-2 Opening Day loss in Game 2 against the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Liriano delivered a quality start -- at least six innings pitched, three or fewer earned runs allowed -- in just 12 of 24 starts last year. That's a percentage that has to improve dramatically for this team to have a chance.
Liriano had an encouraging spring, posting a 2.33 ERA in 27 innings, with 33 strikeouts and just five walks. We'll see if he can carry that into the season.
