Twins at Indians: A Thomecoming

Pitching Matchups:

 RHP Carl Pavano (8-13, 4.40) vs. RHP Justin Masterson (12-10, 3.15) tonight at 7:05

LHP Scott Diamond (1-5, 4.81) vs. LHP David Huff (2-6, 4.20) Saturday at 1:05 p.m.

LHP Francisco Liriano (9-9, 4.77) vs. RHP Mitch Talbot (2-6, 6.33) Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

RHP Liam Hendriks (0-2, 6.23) vs. RHP Fausto Carmona (7-15, 5.23) Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Summary:

The Twins have lost 16 of their past 19 games. Danny Valencia is hitting .294 (10-for-34) with two homers and seven RBI against the Indians this year. Pavano is 1-1 against the Indians this year. At the end of the most recent trip, the Indians swept a three-game series from the Twins. They outscored them, 23-15. Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting .327 (17-for-52) with three homers and 11 RBI against the Twins this year. Masterson is 1-0, with a 1.53 ERA, allowing five earned runs in 291/3 innings, against Minnesota this season.

Twins News/Notes:

• 1B Justin Morneau is suffering from his second debilitating concussion in the last 14 months, and his status for next season won’t be known at least until February, when he reports to Fort Myers, Fla., for spring training.  Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP, might not ever play first base again.

• Before Thursday’s game against Seattle, manager Ron Gardenhire took a look at the lineup card that had just been spit out of his printer. “Well, that’s not a good lineup card,” he said, tearing up the card and throwing it into the trash bin next to his desk. “Even the computer is sick.” Because of injuries (the Twins have used the disabled list 24 times this season and shut down three players for the rest of the season) Gardenhire is on his last stack of official Major League Baseball lineup cards. That’s the first time it’s ever happened, he said. “I can’t even tell you how many I’ve had to change (the lineup card),” he said. “It’s crazy. It’s really crazy.”

• C Joe Mauer, shut down for the season since being diagnosed with pneumonia, was resting at home Thursday, but team trainer Rick McWane said he might join the Twins for their last series of the season, Monday through Wednesday against the Royals at Target Field.

• OF Jason Kubel hasn’t played since Sept. 16 because of a left foot sprain sustained on May 30 in Detroit. Still, he told manager Ron Gardenhire he wants to be available as a pinch hitter this weekend

• C Drew Butera snapped a 0-for-21 skid with his RBI single in the fifth Thursday. Before that hit, Twins’ catchers, Butera, Rene Rivera and Joe Mauer, were a combined 0-for-27. Butera hadn’t hit safely since Sept. 2 at Anaheim.

Twins Injuries:

• CF Denard Span (migraine symptoms) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 14. He missed two months earlier this season because of a concussion. He resumed baseball activities Sept. 3 and took batting practice Sept. 7. On Sept. 16, Span went through his third consecutive workout without experiencing any problems. He was activated Sept. 21 and played four innings as the Twins eased him back into action. He sat out Sept. 22 but expects to play tonight.

• OF Jason Repko (concussion symptoms) was hit in the helmet by a pitch Sept. 18, and he hasn’t played since. There is a chance he won’t return this season.

• DH/OF Jason Kubel (sore left foot) left the Sept. 16 game, and he didn’t play Sept. 17-22. He might be able to return as a pinch hitter before the end of the season.

• C Joe Mauer (pneumonia) was diagnosed Sept. 16, and he requires at least two weeks of rest. He’s out for the rest of the season.

• SS Tsuyoshi Nishioka (sore right oblique) did not play Sept. 6-8. He was back in the lineup Sept. 9, but he didn’t play Sept. 10-14. He was shut down for the season on Sept. 16.

• 1B Justin Morneau (left knee surgery and right foot surgery in September 2011) did not play Aug. 29-Sept. 18 due to a mild concussion and left shoulder stiffness. On Sept. 19, he had season-ending surgeries to remove a cyst in his left knee and bone spurs from his right foot.

• 2B Alexi Casilla (strained right hamstring) went on the 15-day disabled list July 28. He was activated Aug. 12 but then was placed back on DL Aug. 13 after aggravating the injury. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Fort Myers on Aug. 29, but he was re-injured in that game. He was running at Target Field in mid-September, and he hopes to be activated before the end of the season.

• RHP Nick Blackburn (right lateral forearm strain) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 22. An MRI revealed an entrapped nerve caused by inflammation. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Sept. 4, ending his season.