Mauer a late scratch vs. Angels; Perkins unavailable

Among the injury updates as the Twins prepare to face the Angels in the first of a three-game series in Anaheim: Francisco Liriano is seeking a second opinion.

By lavelle neal

September 3, 2011 at 11:31AM
Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

UPDATE: Joe Mauer has been scratched from tonight's starting lineup because of illness. Luke Hughes will play first base instead. We have no idea where Hughes will bat in the lineup. Mauer is being examined as we speak. It never ends here....

UPDATE: Mauer has been diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection.

We're back to team trainer Rick McWane providing injury updates. He wasn't needed when one or two players were banged up. But there's more injury news today.

Lefthander Glen Perkins will be kept out of the next couple of games because of forearm soreness. McWane said the injury is not serious, but they will keep off the mound for a couple days to allow the soreness to go away.

Lefthander Francisco Liriano (sore left shoulder) is doing better. But his agent has decided to seek another opinion, so Liriano will fly out here early next week to be examined by Angels' team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum.

Liriano's recent MRI didn't reveal any red flags, but those results have been sent to Yocum to look over. The agent has the right to ask for a second opinion, but it seems strange when a team says a pitcher feels better but still has to seek another opinion.

Denard Span (migraine symptoms) is on his way back to the Twin Cities after spending more than a week in Florida and will begin working out at the ballpark on Saturday,

The Twins face a pitching dilemma on Tuesday. On Monday, they likely will start Anthony Swarzak and lefthander Scott Diamond in the day-night doubleheader against the White Sox at Target Field. They are in a quandary over who will start on Tuesday. They plan to call up a pitcher from Class AAA Rochester on Monday, but he will be a reliever. It will be interesting to see whom they send to the mound to face a White Sox team that's fighting for the postseason.

Twins (57-79)

1. Ben Revere, OF
2. Trevor Plouffe, 2B
3. Jason Kubel, DH
4. Michael Cuddyer, RF
5. Danny Valencia, 3B
6. Rene Tosoni, LF
7. Luke Hughes, 1B
8. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, SS
9. Drew Butera, C

Pitching: Carl Pavano, 6-11 4.62

Angels (74-63)

1. Wily Aybar, SS
2. Howie Kendrick, 2B
3. Bob Abreu, DH
4. Torii Hunter, RF
5. Mark Trumbo, 1B
6. Alberto Callaspo, 3B
7. Vernon Wells, LF
8. Peter Bourjos, CF
9. Hank Conger, C

Pitching: Tyler Chatwood, RHP,6-9, 4.35

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lavelle neal

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