The Twins open their final homestand of the season tonight with the now-requisite dose of bad news. Eddie Rosario, their second-year outfielder who turns 25 next week, won't play again this season after suffering an avulsion fracture in his left thumb while diving back into first base in New York. He'll wear a cast for the next six weeks, which should still allow him to play winter ball in Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, Joe Mauer remains out of the lineup with sore quads, and Miguel Sano will be on the bench as well. But Twins manager Paul Molitor expects Sano to play later this week, after he took two sessions of batting practice and fielded some ground balls on Tuesday.
Those left on the field will face another opponent desperate for wins. Detroit enters the day 2 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot, and with just 13 games left to play, any loss for the Tigers is crushing. They're still upset over splitting a four-game series with the Twins last week at Comerica Park.
Those are the Twins' only wins in their last eight games, but Molitor said he team is soldiering on. "It's been a good thing, despite the season that we've put together, to have an opportunity to play some of these teams. It just adds a little bit to the game," he said. "I know it gets tough. People start to look ahead a little bit, but you've got to show up, you've got to try to stay present and you've got to play."
So play they will, with Hector Santiago trying to record his third straight win. Matt Boyd is on the mound for Detroit. Here are tonight's lineups:
TIGERS
Maybin CF
Iglesias SS
