Twins give Nelson Cruz extra day off to ease hip soreness - Minneapolis Star Tribune

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Designated hitter deluxe Nelson Cruz was out of the lineup for a second consecutive day because of lingering hip soreness, but the club continues to be optimistic about him returning to the lineup sooner than later.

Brent Rooker, for the second straight game, took over at DH while the Twins and Cruz wait for his hip to improve.

“Yesterday I thought there was a pretty good chance that Nellie would play today,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We’re opting for one more day.”

Cruz, batting .329 with 13 homers and 29 RBI, is the Twins’ best bat, so any lingering issue could have a significant impact on a team that has struggled to score runs this season. But the Twins were able to score eight runs on Sunday without him and took a 5-1 lead on Monday into the middle innings.

And everyone is at a loss to explain how Cruz picked up the injury.

“His hip in general, just his hip and his side, have been sore,” Baldelli said. “I’m not really sure why. I don’t think he’s 100 percent sure why. Could have slept funny. Could have just woken up with something. It’s not like there was any sort of acute, onset, just kind of woke up with it. It’s been a couple of days where it’s kind of lingered a little bit. I do have some hopes that he’ll be ready and able tomorrow for the doubleheader.”

Fair trade?

The Twins headed for St. Louis after the game, where they will face the Cardinals in a one-day, two-game trip.

It was originally scheduled to be played over two days, but the Cardinals are in the process of making up missed games last month due to the virus and needed to create an off day. So the Twins agreed to playing a pair of seven-inning games on Tuesday.

The Twins had no problem with that deal. The one day trip is peculiar, but they get two consecutive off days - because Thursday is a regularly scheduled off day - and play four fewer innings overall.

“It’s an interesting equation,” Baldelli said. “Very unusual. It was unusual when we were originally asked about doing this. But I think it’s probably one of those things where it’s six of one or half a dozen of the other. It puts us in a spot where we get the two off days in a row. We will work out one of those off days so we’re not just sitting around for two consecutive days, which I think works fine. It allows everyone to catch up physically more than anything else.”

Garver progress

Catcher Mitch Garver has been out of the lineup since Aug. 19 due to an intercostal strain, a tricky injury that can take a while to heal. But there are indications that Garver is getting over the hump.

On Sunday, Garver went through a full workout, taking swings and making throws. And there is a chance that, provided everything goes right, Garver could return to the lineup by the end of the week, right when the Twins are playing Cleveland.

Garver got off to a slow start at the plate before the injury, batting .154 over 17 games. But Garver won the silver slugger last season when he batted .273 with 31 home runs and 67 RBI in 93 games, and he could be a boost to the offense even if he reaches a fraction of that production.

Roster move

Devin Smeltzer turned 25 on Monday. He celebrated by heading to St. Paul.

The lefthander was optioned to the Twins’ alternate training camp at CHS Field after a rocky outing on Sunday during which he gave up two runs on three hits and a walk over 11/3 innings. In seven outings, Smeltzer has given up 12 earned runs over 16 innings for a 6.75 ERA.

To replace Smeltzer on the roster, the Twins activated righthander Cody Stashak from the injured list. Stashak missed 23 games with lower back inflammation after starting the season with a 3.86 ERA over six appearances.

Smeltzer’s departure leaves the Twins with two lefthanders in the bullpen. One is closer Taylor Rogers, the other Caleb Thielbar.

Etc.

Baldelli’s lineup maneuvering on Monday led to him using his seventh different leadoff hitter: LaMonte Wade Jr.

It’s not a problem for Wade, who walked more than 60 times in each of his last two minor league seasons and walked 74 times at Class AA Chattanooga in 2017.

“LaMonte has exceptional at-bats,” Baldelli said. “He always has. He did last year when he came up and played with us. And that’s what kind of hitter he is. He combines a few different things when he goes up there. He does see the ball very well, so he doesn’t expand very much. But he’s also aggressive on balls in the zone, so it’s not like he’s just up there taking."

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