CHICAGO — The Twins got some "really good news" on Friday, manager Paul Molitor said, when Ricky Nolasco's elbow exam revealed no structural damage. But Nolasco will go on the disabled list on Saturday, and Trevor May will rejoin the team — and start Monday's home opener in Target Field.
"It's a great opportunity for Trevor," Molitor said in announcing that the second-year righthander will forego his scheduled start in Class AAA Rochester's home opener on Saturday in order to pitch for the major-league team whose roster he nearly made this spring. Molitor said the Twins are confident May has conquered the nerves that occasionally afflicted him on the mount last season. "That's what experience is all about. … One thing that impressed me about him this spring was his better presence on the mound."
For Nolasco, it's his second disabled list stint in two seasons with the Twins, but the Twins are hopeful that this one will last only 15 days, and not the five weeks he was absent last year with forearm pain. The magnetic resonance imaging test he underwent on Thursday found only inflammation. Nolasco said he felt "a spike" in his elbow near the end of his start on Wednesday, but apparently there is no damage to the elbow.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Escobar gets his first start at shortstop today — and he'll play in honor of his newborn son. Jose Emanuel Escobar, the infielder's third child, was born in Minneapolis Friday morning. Escobar told Molitor he wanted to play today, and will head home after the game to be with his fiancee, Eucaris Alvarez, and new son over the weekend.
Here are the lineups for Opening Day at U.S. Cellular Field, a game between two 0-3 teams:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Escobar SS
