Twins look to take two of three in Detroit before big series in Cleveland

Ervin Santana, who has been on a roll, is on the mound for the Twins

September 27, 2015 at 5:03PM
Twins Trevor Plouffe called himself safe at second base in the second inning. ] (KYNDELL HARKNESS/STAR TRIBUNE) kyndell.harkness@startribune.com Twins vs Cleveland at Target Field in Minneapolis Min., Wednesday September 23, 2015.
Twins Trevor Plouffe called himself safe at second base in the second inning. ] (KYNDELL HARKNESS/STAR TRIBUNE) kyndell.harkness@startribune.com Twins vs Cleveland at Target Field in Minneapolis Min., Wednesday September 23, 2015. (Brian Stensaas — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The wild card watch centers in Kansas City today, where the Indians are trying to sweep the pennant-clinching Royals. Danny Salazar is on the mound today, and the Indians could return home to face the Twins with plenty of momentum if they can win today.

The Twins are just trying to win a series in Detroit and keep within range of the Houston Astros for the final AL wild card spot. The Angels are one game in front of them, and Cleveland is 1.5 games back.

Twins manager Paul Molitor has a clubhouse with a handful of players under the weather. Trevor Plouffe is one of them. Plouffe said he feels better today, but Molitor decided it was a good time to get him off the field and get Eduardo Nunez in the lineup. Eddie Rosario is not sick, he's just getting a day off. Both could pinch hit, if needed.

A win today, and the Twins finish the season series 8-11 against the Tigers

Twins

Brian Doizier, 2B
Aaron Hicks, LF
Joe Mauer, 1B
Miguel Sano, DH
Torii Hunter, RF
Eduardo Nunez, 3B
Eduardo Escobar, SS
Kurt Suzuki, C
Byron Buxton, CF

Ervin Santana, RHP

Tigers

Rajai Davis, CF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Miguel Cabrera, DH
Victor Martinez, 1B
J.D. Martinez, RF
Tyler Collins, LF
Alex Avila, C
Josh Wilson, SS

Randy Wolf, LHP

about the writer

about the writer

La Velle E. Neal III

Columnist

La Velle E. Neal III is a sports columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune who previously covered the Twins for more than 20 years.

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