Twins face red-hot Felix Hernandez

Center fielder Torii Hunter is out of the lineup after bruising his left shoulder attempting to make a diving catch during Tuesday's game. Hunter said he woke up feeling sore but thought he might feel good enough to play tonight, if necessary.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Hunter would be available to pinch hit.

Jesse Crain (shoulder) is available for tonight's game. He was also available last night but did not pitch. Crain hasn't pitched since Tuesday, April 10 against the Yankees.

Nick Punto is getting another day to rest his sprained ankle. Gardenhire said Punto came to the park today sore from all the exercises he's been doing to speed his recovery.

Finally, apologies for my lack of blogging lately. Look for the blog to be regularly updated from now on.

With that, lineups ...

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Jason Tyner CF
Joe Mauer DH
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Mike Redmond C
Jason Kubel LF
Luis Rodriguez 3B
Jason Bartlett SS
Carlos Silva P

Seattle
Ichiro Suzuki CF
Adrian Beltre 3B
Jose Vidro DH
Raul Ibanez LF
Richie Sexson 1B
Jose Guillen RF
Kenji Johjima C
Yuniesky Betancourt SS
Jose Lopez 2B
Felix Hernandez P

Twins, Devil Rays lineups for Friday

Jason Bartlett returns to the lineup this evening for game 2 of this four-part series against Tampa Bay.

Jesse Crain (shoulder) is still on the mend and said he could return as soon as Saturday.

Lineups ...

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Josh Rabe LF
Luis Rodriguez DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Johan Santana P

Tampa Bay
Rocco Baldelli CF
Ben Zobrist SS
Carl Crawford LF
Ty Wigginton DH
Delmon Young RF
Akinori Iwamura 3B
Carlos Pena 1B
Josh Paul C
B.J. Upton 2B
Scott Kazmir P

Cirillo to have surgery Wednesday

Jeff Cirillo will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Wednesday morning, manager Ron Gardenhire said Tuesday.

Josh Rabe and Alexi Casilla arrived in Minneapolis this morning, and Rabe is in the starting lineup batting seventh and playing left field.

Here are your lineups ...

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Josh Rabe LF
Mike Redmond DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Boof Bonser P

New York
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Andy Pettitte P

Cirillo: surgery is likely

Perhaps you've already read the news on www.twincities.com, but if not, here you go: Jeff Cirillo said the irritated minscus tear in his left knee is not improving and he will likely have arthroscopic surgery to repair it.

Cirillo said doctors would evaluate him before tonight's game and the final decision would be made after that.

Juan Rincon's neck is still pretty stiff, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gardenhire did not yet know if Rincon would be available when he spoke with reporters before the series opener against the Yankees.

Lineups:

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Jason Kubel LF
Mike Redmond DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Sidney Ponson P

New York
Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi DH
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Doug Mientkiewicz 1B
Melky Cabrera LF
Carl Pavano P

Still chilly in the Windy City

The projected game-time temperature tiday is 37 degrees, a bit warmer than Saturday, but not noticeably.

Juan Rincon is nursing a sore neck. He wasn't available to pitch yesterday because of it, and manager Ron Gardenhire said Rincon still seemed pretty sore today. Gardenhire said he didn't know if Rincon would be available for use today.

Rondell White said his calf is feeling a little better today. He spent Saturday evening icing, soaking it in hot water in his hotel bathtub, and watching We are Marshall. He's still day to day.

Jeff Cirillo is again available to pinch hit, though Gardenhire said if Cirillo gets on base, he'll have to pinch run for him.

With that, lineups.

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Mike Redmond DH
Jason Tyner LF
Jason Bartlett SS
Johan Santana P

White Sox
Pablo Ozuna LF
Darin Erstad CF
Paul Konerko 1B
Jim Thome DH
Jermaine Dye RF
Joe Crede 3B
A.J. Pierzynski C
Tadahito Iguchi 2B
Juan Uribe SS
John Danks P

White scratched, Tyner in

Rondell White strained his right calf muscle during pre-game warmups. He's day to day. Jason Tyner is replacing him in left field.

The lineup is now:
Castillo 2B
Punto 3B
Mauer C
Cuddyer RF
Morneau 1B
Hunter CF
Kubel DH
Tyner LF
Bartlett SS

Cold in Chicago!

It is quite chilly here in Chicago. The snow showers forecasted haven't come yet, but we'll see how this all ends up.

Jeff Cirillo said his agility work went well on Friday, and he's available to pinch hit today. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he'd like to keep Cirillo out of action because of the cold weather.

Not too much going on here at U.S. Cellular right now, so I'll leave with the lineups.

Minnesota
Luis Castillo 2B
Nick Punto 3B
Joe Mauer C
Michael Cuddyer RF
Justin Morneau 1B
Torii Hunter CF
Rondell White LF
Jason Kubel DH
Jason Bartlett SS
Carlos Silva P

Chicago
Scott Podsednik LF
Darin Erstad CF
Jim Thome DH
Paul Konerko 1B
Jermaine Dye RF
Joe Crede 3B
A.J. Perzynski C
Tadahito Iguchi 2B
Juan Uribe SS
Javier Vazquez P