FORT MYERS, Fla. — It's a marathon day of baseball for the Twins, with a rare day-night spring doubleheader. It's one of those days where a manager shrugs and says, "Let's just get through it without anyone getting hurt."
Unfortunately for the Twins, there's already an issue, albeit a minor one. Miguel Sano, scheduled to play third base in today's afternoon home game against the Rays, was scratched from the lineup after letting the trainers know his right knee is a little sore. He bruised the knee while sliding into second base with a double during Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox, and the Twins are keeping him off the field as a precaution.
Sano should return in the next day or two, he said. "It's good. It's OK," Sano said this morning. "Just [bruised] a little bit."
My guess is Sano won't play tomorrow, either, since the Twins have an 8 a.m. bus ride up the gulf coast to Bradenton. The fact that he's had a hit in seven straight games and has looked good in the field makes his condition less urgent, and the motivation to shield him that much greater.
With Sano scratched from the lineup, Gregorio Petit will play the position against the Red Sox, batting eighth. The Twins are sending their starting outfield to JetBlue Stadium for tonight's game with the Red Sox, but most of the rest of the starters will be here in Hammond Stadium, facing the Rays for the fourth time in a week. Jose Berrios, who has allowed only one run in seven spring innings, makes his fourth start, and second straight against Tampa Bay.
Here are the lineups for today's first game:
RAYS
