KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It's a nice problem to have, Ron Gardenhire said a few minutes ago, trying to decide whether you are overworking your closer. Glen Perkins pitched in all three games of the Twins' weekend sweep of the Astros, and there may be a decision to make if the Twins have a late lead tonight.
"If he says he feels great, we go with what he says he feels," Gardenhire said of his closer, whose 44 innings are fewest among pitchers who have been with the Twins all year. "Perk will tell us. If he's a little beat up, or his arm is a little dead, he'll definitely tell us. We've had him do it before. As long as he's honest with us, we're OK with that."
The 30-year-old closer said he's "good to go," in the Twins' clubhouse before the game. Perkins hasn't pitched on four straight days since June 30-July 3 of last season.
The Twins have lost five of their six games at Kauffman Stadium this year, and were swept by the Royals in Target Field last week, so they definitely have some trends they want to reverse. So does Kevin Correis, tonight's starter, who won only one game in June and one game in July.
Pedro Florimon remains out for another game with a wrist injury, but he's on the field taking batting practice, and should return during this series.
Tonight's lineups:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Mauer C
Morneau 1B
Doumit DH
Arcia LF
Plouffe 3B
Herrmann RF
Thomas CF
Bernier SS
Correia RHP
