BOSTON -- Twins shortstop Trevor Plouffe is day-to-day with a strained left hamstring. He is not in tonight's lineup and is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Tuesday, but the hamstring responded well to a strength test, and there's hope he won't have to go on the DL.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said he doesn't want to wait too long without having Plouffe available, but it does sound like an injury that could pass in a couple days.
Matt Tolbert is at shortstop. Gardenhire said he's starting Luke Hughes at second base because Hughes can hit fastballs, and the Twins should see a lot of them tonight from Josh Beckett. But Gardenhire acknowledged this also gives Alexi Casilla a chance to get a mental break.
Jim Thome is heading to Fort Myers, Fla., to continue rehabbing his strained back muscle. The Twins looked at the weather forecast and figured he'd get more work in down there than he would in Minneapolis.
Delmon Young had a good workout in Fort Myers today and he'll be ready to DH in an extended spring training game on Tuesday. Tsuyoshi Nishioka also had decreased soreness in his left leg today, so he's making progress.
Part of the reason Joe Mauer isn't heading to Florida yet is because he uses the underwater treadmill at Target Field. He continues to do his hitting and throwing, but there is no timetable for his return.
TWINS (12-20)
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Matt Tolbert, SS
3. Jason Kubel, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Danny Valencia, 3B
6. Michael Cuddyer, RF
7. Ben Revere, LF
8. Rene Rivera, C
9. Luke Hughes, 2B
