The Twins open a three-game series at Target Field against American League Central leading Chicago tonight (6:40 p.m., BSN).
Kepler, Astudillo not in lineup as Twins start three-game series against White Sox
J.A. Happ pitches for the home team, with Dallas Keuchel on the mound for Chicago.
May 17, 2021 at 8:40PM
Max Kepler (hamstring) and Willians Astudillo (hand) were injured in Sunday's loss to Oakland and aren't in the lineup. Astudillo could play tonight, but Kepler won't.
Alex Kirilloff, still on the injured list, took BP off the machine before the game as he tries to access whether he can play despite a wrist injury.
American League MVP Jose Abreu, who won the game for the Sox on Sunday despite being injured Friday, is also sitting out because of an ankle injury. He'll likely miss the series. The Sox are already without two starting outfielders, Luis Robert (hip) and Eloy Jimenez (pectoral), who have long-term injuries.
Still, the Sox are 24-15 and are 10½ games ahead of the Twins.
Rand and Reusse took a look at the woes of starting pitcher Kenta Maeda this morning. Maeda (groin injury) might miss his next start, manager Rocco Baldelli said.
Lefties on the mound as J.A. Happ (2-1, 4.26) starts for the Twins and Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 4.53) for the White Sox.
CHICAGO LINEUP
Tim Anderson, SS
Nick Madrigal, 2B
Yoan Moncada, 3B
Yermin Mercedes, DH
Andrew Vaughn, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, C
Leury Garcia, LF
Danny Mendrick, RF
Billy Hamilton, CF
TWINS LINEUP
Kyle Garlick, RF
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Jorge Polanco, 2B
Mitch Garver, C
Rob Refsnyder, CF
Miguel Sano, 1B
Luis Arraez, LF
Andrelton Simmons, SS
Talk of competing for the best players or of a potential new owner wielding big bucks doesn’t change this: They are last in popularity among the four major men’s pro sports.
