For the first time since July 20, Danny Santana isn't in the lineup for the Twins today, and it's amazing how different the batting order looks without him. Brian Dozier is back in the leadoff spot after thriving at No. 2 for a couple of months, and Eduardo Nunez, filling in for Jordan Schafer in left field, is batting second. While not exactly slow, that's not the speedy lineup the Twins are used to, but there is little choice.
Santana strained a muscle in his left lower back while making a throw from center field on Saturday, an injury that isn't considered serious, but hasn't disappeared yet, either. The Twins have a day off Monday, so the chances are probably good that he's back when the Twins open their road trip in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Logan Darnell makes his third career start today; his first two, both against the White Sox, didn't go well, and Darnell carries an 8.25 ERA into today's game. He'll face C.J. Wilson, who is 4-0 against the Twins since 2011.
There are 20 games left in the season, 10 at Target Field and 10 on the road. Minnesota needs to go 12-8 to avoid 90 losses this year, a real challenge considering they went 6-14 over their last 20 (and 3-11 in their last 14).
Here are the lineups for today's 1:10 p.m. start:
ANGELS
Kendrick 2B
Trout CF
