Who needs Oklahoma-Villanova when you have Duffey-Nolasco going on this afternoon in Florida?
Twins fans are on the edges of their seats as the two gladiators enter the ring for what should be the final showdown.
Duffey is facing the Pirates in Bradenton. It's a watered down Pirates lineup, without Andrew McCutheon and his talented corner outfielders. No Josh Harrison. No Francsico Cervelli. Duffey has a chance to pitch well today and make a case to head north with the team while Nolasco heads to the bullpen.
Nolasco is back in Fort Myers, facing Class A Frederick. Nolasco has a chance to pitch well today and make a case to head north while Duffey heads to Rochester.
For updates on Nolasco, follow Phil Mioller on Twitter @MillerStrib
Waiting in the clubhouse: Logan Darnell, Michael Tonkin, Brandon Kintzler and Ryan O'Rourke. If Duffey heads to Rochester, that means one more spot opens up in the bullpen.Â
The drama is building as fans are backed up and down I-75 in anticipation of this one.
Will check back later if there are any updates. Still haven't heard what Carlos Quentin is going to do after getting cut. Maybe Terry Ryan will have an update for us.
Twins
Byron Buxton, CF
Danny Santana, 2B
Miguel Sano, RF
Oswaldo Arcia, DH
Eddie Rosario, LF
Eduardo Nunez, SS
D.J. Hicks, 1B
John Ryan Murphy, C
James Beresford, 3B
Tyler Duffey, RHP
Pirates
John Jaso, 1B
MAtt Joyce, LF
David Freese, 3B
Michael Morse, DH
S-Rod, SS
Cole Figueroa, 2B
Chris Stewart, C
Danny Ortiz, RF
Antoan Richardson, CF
Gerrit Cole, RHP
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La Velle E. Neal III has covered baseball for the Star Tribune since 1998 (the post-Knoblauch era). Born and raised in Chicago, he grew up following the White Sox and hating the Cubs. He attended both the University of Illinois and Illinois-Chicago and began his baseball writing career at the Kansas City Star. He can be heard occasionally on KFAN radio, lending his great baseball mind to Paul Allen and other hosts.
Phil Miller covered three seasons of Twins baseball, but that was at a different ballpark for a different newspaper. Now Miller returns to the baseball beat after joining the Star Tribune as the Gopher football writer in 2010, and he won't miss the dingy dome for a minute. In addition to the Twins and Gophers, Miller covered the Utah Jazz and the NBA for six years at The Salt Lake Tribune.
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