You arrive at the ballpark, check with your players, check matchups and write out a lineup card.
And then you have to improvise.
That's what Twins manager Paul Molitor is dealing with right now as he had to remove outfielder Max Kepler from the starting lineup because of right foot contusion. Kepler fouled a ball off of his foot in the sixth inning on Friday but was able to remain in the game. But when he tried to warm up earlier this afternoon, the foot reacted angrily.
So the plan is for Kepler to have X-Rays of his foot taken to make sure there isn't something seriously wrong.
Byron Buxton was not in the ordinal lineup against Cleveland ace Corey Kluber, but he is now. Eddie Rosario, originally scheduled to start in center, has been moved back to his customary left field.
But for how long? Rosario has been slowed by the same sinus infection that has kept Miguel Sano out of the lineup. And Rosario looks even worse today than he did yesterday. The Twins were going to see how he warms up today. If he struggles, he could be a late scratch.
UPDATE: Rosario has been scratched. Chris Gimenez now playing left field. CHRIS GIMENEZ!
As for Sano, he said he feels better today, but Molitor still has him out of the starting lineup. Sano is available off the bench.
Not good for the Twins, especially when they are facing someone of Kluber's caliber. Joe Mauer is a career .298 hitter against Kluber with two home runs. The rest of the team isn't doing as well. Brian Dozier (.150), Eduardo Escobar (.126), Rosario (.176) and Sano (.063) have not figured out this guy.
Escobar told me he stayed up late last night looking at Kluber video and thinks he has an answer. We will see.
The pitching matchups for Boston are out.
Monday: Jose Berrios vs Chris Sale
Tuesday: Hector Santiago vs. Drew Pomeranz
Wednesday: Adalberto Mejia vs Rick Porcello
Thursday: Kyle Gibson vs David Price
Pack a lunch....
Twins
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Robbie Grossman, RF
Kennys Vargas, 1B
Eduardo Escobar, 3B
Jorge Polanco, SS
Chris Gimenez, LF
Jason Castro, C
Byron Buxton, CF
Kyle Gibson, RHP
Indians
Francisco Lindor, SS
Jason Kipnis, 2B
Jose Ramirez, 3B
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Lonnie Chisenhall, RF
Carlos Santana, 1B
Yan Gomes, C
Bradley Zimmer, CF
Austin Jackson, LF
Corey Kluber, RHP
