KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ryan Pressly isn't at Kauffman Stadium yet, but he was going to take part in a doubleheader today, no matter what. But instead of being in the Rochester bullpen for the Red Wings' Class AAA doubleheader at Lehigh Valley, he'll be here, rejoining the team that send him out about two days ago.
As soon as he arrives from the airport, and pulls on one of the Independence Day uniforms that MLB teams are wearing this weekend, he'll be available to pitch, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. Molitor is concerned about his bullpen holding up under the constant workload they've handled lately, which is why Alan Busenitz was optioned back to Rochester after pitching 2 2/3 innings last night.
Molitor's concern is mostly related to tonight's game, when rookie Jorge Felix will make his major league debut. For this afternoon's game, it's the Royals who are using a first-timer: Luke Farrell, son of Red Sox manager John Farrell, will face Minnesota's Jose Berrios. The Red Sox manager is expected to be in the crowd today to watch his son's debut.
Here are the lineups for today's first game of the doubleheader:
TWINS
Dozier 2B
Grossman LF
Mauer 1B
Sano 3B
Kepler RF
Vargas DH
Gimenez C
Polanco SS
Buxton CF
Berrios RHP
ROYALS
Merrifield RF
Torres 2B
Cain CF
Hosmer 1B
Perez C
Moustakas 3B
Moss DH
Escobar SS
Gordon LF
Farrell RHP