Ricky Nolasco makes a late charge for Twins rotation spot with sharp outing vs. Rays

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Remember that one, lone, solitary vacancy in the Twins' starting rotation that Ricky Nolasco and Tommy Milone were fighting over? It seems to have doubled in size.

Nolasco pitched six shutout innings Wednesday against a roster of minor leaguers disguised as the Tampa Bay Rays, and Milone makes a potentially important start Thursday against the Miami Marlins. But manager Paul Molitor hinted after the Twins' 5-2 loss at Hammond Stadium that their one-on-one competition could have a surprise winner:

Both of them.

Shortly before Nolasco embarked on a trouble-free three-hit performance on the main stage, Tyler Duffey stumbled against the Class AAA Norfolk Tides on a back field, surrendering six runs, five of them on a pair of home runs, and giving up seven hits in 5 ⅔ innings. And with Duffey's spring ERA against major league teams standing at 6.48, manager Paul Molitor made it clear that the widespread assumption that Duffey owns a roster spot is premature.

"We have to figure out what we're going to do the first couple of days in Kansas City," Molitor said of the April 8 and 9 games, which will feature the Twins' fourth and fifth starters. "I don't think it's been decided."

It's true that the Twins never guaranteed Duffey the job, though they've come close. Assistant general manager Rob Antony said last week that "I don't see him not being in the rotation, based on what he did last year. … It's his job to lose, so he could still lose that job."

Molitor ruled out a potential bullpen role for Duffey, who has been trying to develop a changeup and has yet to find consistency with the curveball that propelled him to an 8-1 record and 2.25 ERA over his final nine starts last year.

"I'm just watching, trying to evaluate," the manager said. "There are people he's competing with who have a lot more experience. Despite what he did last year, I don't think it was automatically given that he would step right in there. I'm trying to give him every opportunity, and he's trying to prove he's warranted one of those last two spots."

Nolasco, a disappointment in his first two seasons in Minnesota, seems to be seizing the opportunity. He pitched well against minor leaguers last week and had little trouble Wednesday, albeit against a lineup that included no players who will make the Rays; Tampa Bay's major league team stayed home to rest up after a fun but arduous field trip to Cuba.

"I'm not thinking too much about [the competition], I'm just feeling good," Nolasco said. "Just focusing on trying to keep my front side closed and command the fastball a little bit. I felt pretty decent the last time out, and it kind of carried over today."

Nolasco allowed only a double that was dropped on the warning track by Eddie Rosario, an infield single and a leadoff double in the sixth inning. He also walked two. The Twins' bullpen wasn't nearly so sharp, with Glen Perkins giving up three runs, two of them earned, and Trevor May allowing three hits and two runs.

Molitor said that while players like to know as soon as possible what their fate is, he is willing to let this competition play out into next week, though another round of starts. Is Nolasco anxious for a verdict?

"It's not my decision. I'll leave that up to those guys," he said. "They know how I feel."