By Amelia Rayno, who is continuing to fill in for Joe C during the KC series.
Gardenhire said there is a "very good chance" the Twins will bring up a pitcher after today's game for the double header tomorrow. He hasn't identified who it would be yet, but it's unlikely it would be reliever Chuck James -- as I mentioned yesterday -- because he said he is looking for someone that could potentially go five to seven innings, just in case either starter has problems. Gardy did mention that the Twins had "a roster spot to play with," which could be a hint that Rochester's Kyle Gibson could be a candidate. Gibson appears to be the only guy not on the 40-man roster that would be stretched out enough to meet those requirements. Gibson has a 4.17 ERA through 16 games at Rochester and has 86 strikeouts in 86.1 innings.
Baker is scheduled to start the first game tomorrow, which should be OK (he says he feels great), but the 13th pitcher would give the team more options if for any reason something happens that causes him to go short. Baker said he's done his best to test his arm as much as he can in a non-game situation, but that, of course, you never truly know how something is going to react until you get in.
Apparently, Gardy has a bet going on with Nishi regarding today's US women's World Cup final vs. Japan. "I wish I could trash talk in Japaneses," he said. Gardy said if Japan loses he's making Nishi a t-shirt that says "I love American women."
Gardenhire, still under the weather from a esophogeal virus that's been bugging him the last couple days, will watch most of the game from the clubhouse, where he will be "screaming at the TV," he said.
1. Revere, CF2. Casilla, 2B
3. Mauer, C
4. Cuddyer, 1B
