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Minnesota Twins Daily Clips Wednesday, May 31, 2017

 Jose Berrios struggles for Twins, lasts just five innings in 7-2 loss to Houston. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 1  Reusse: Falvey, Twins need to stay committed to winning and not quick fixes. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 2  Perkins throws to live hitters; Sano scratched from Twins lineup due to illness. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 4  starts for Twins despite lacerated finger. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 4  MLB mock drafts: Twins will pass on fame, versatility with No. 1 pick. Star Tribune (Gonzalez) p. 5  Tony-O puts Altuve in AL's top two, and the other one is injured. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 6  Twins unsure if third baseman Miguel Sano will play Wednesday. Star Tribune (Neal) p. 7  Bullpen decisions remain most mysterious made by Falvey regime. Star Tribune (Reusse) p. 7  Twins' relievers left few options. Star Tribune (Souhan) p. 8  Murphy: Berrios isn’t the Twins’ stopper. Not yet, anyway. Pioneer Press (Murphy) p. 9  Jason Castro making expected defensive impact for Twins. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 10  set for next phase of rehab in Florida after facing hitters. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 11  Santiago out to slow Astros in series finale. MLB (Jackson) p. 13  A rare lapse in command costs Berrios. MLB (Bollinger) p. 13  Twins can't sustain fast start vs. Astros. MLB (McTaggart & Jackson) p. 14  Perkins clears hurdle with throwing session. MLB (Bollinger) p. 15  ESPN’s Keith Law tabs Kyle Wright as the presumed Twins’ top draft pick. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 16  Miguel Sano a late scratch from the lineup because of illness. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 16  Twins will miss Mike Trout in upcoming Angels series. ESPN 1500 (Wetmore) p. 17  Twins’ bats go quiet in loss to league-leading Astros. Associated Press p. 17  StaTuesday: Mauer’s multitude of multi-hit games. FOX Sports North (Bierberger) p. 18  Twins Notes: Hughes, Perkins. MLB Trade Rumors (Todd) p. 19

Jose Berrios struggles for Twins, lasts just five innings in 7-2 loss to Houston La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | May 31, 2017

Twins manager Paul Molitor winced at the thought of Jose Berrios needing to be a stopper on Tuesday.

“The guy just turned 23, and we hope he can round out a rotation and give us an opportunity to win,” Molitor said. “I’m not going to put ‘stopper’ along with Jose’s name at this juncture.”

But the Twins needed to be picked up after bullpen meltdowns the past two games. Berrios dazzled in his first three outings; why couldn’t he do it a fourth time?

It was too much to ask for, as the Twins fell 7-2 to Houston for their third consecutive defeat. Berrios had his worst outing by far since arriving from Class AAA Rochester, needing 104 pitches to get through five innings.

“It’s tough with a lineup like that,” Berrios said, “but I never lose my confidence with my pitches. I try to compete, one bad night. Get ready for the next one.”

The warning signs popped up in the third inning as Berrios began to hand back a 2-0 lead. Berrios hit Marwin Gonzalez with a pitch, gave up a down the left field line to Yuli Gurriel, then a sacrifice fly to Alex Bregman.

Houston then loaded the bases against Berrios in the fourth, getting a run home when Brian McCann hit into a double play. The score was tied 2-2. Berrios did limit the damage to one run, but he entered the fifth inning having thrown 71 pitches.

Berrios fell behind the first four batters he faced in the fifth, as the Astros loaded the bases, again, with one out. Berrios could not find the magic pitch this time. Actually, third baseman Ehire Adrianza needed a magic glove, as Jose Altuve ripped a two-run single by him to give Houston a 4-2 lead. Altuve was given a hit, but Adrianza could have made the play.

“We had a chance to get off the field even instead of down there,” Molitor said.

The loss dropped the Twins' lead in the , which was three games on Sunday, to two percentage points over Cleveland.

In five innings, Berrios gave up four runs on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts. After throwing 65.9 percent of his pitches for strikes over his first three outings, he threw strikes only 60.6 percent of the time Tuesday.

First-pitch strikes really told the tale: Berrios got ahead in the count with only 11 of the 23 batters he faced, or 48 percent.

But Molitor has seen Berrios pitch worse, much worse, during his baptism season last year. And he reminded him of that.

“I told him I was proud of him,” Molitor said. “A lot of times, when he hasn’t had his command in the past, it’s kind of been explosive. And I thought he contained pretty well tonight.”

The Twins offense was unable to bail out Berrios despite facing Houston righthander Mike Fiers, who entered the game having given up a league-high 18 home runs. The Twins scored twice in the first, on a bases-loaded walk to Eddie Rosario and a Byron Buxton infield single, but then Fiers took control, retiring the next eight batters and lasting six innings.

Altuve led the Astros by going 4-for-5 with two RBI. Bregman added a solo homer in the seventh, and Houston tacked on two more runs in the ninth.

“They don’t have a lot of power but they hit with men on base,” Berrios said. “I walked a couple guys, that’s my damage.”

Reusse: Falvey, Twins need to stay committed to winning and not quick fixes Patrick Reusse | Star Tribune | May 31, 2017

The Twins had an impressive series in Baltimore last week, sweeping the Orioles with three different types of victories: a 14-7 comeback, a 2-0 masterpiece from Ervin Santana and a 4-3 contest of will.

The Twins returned to and, after splitting the first two games of a series with Tampa Bay, they were 26-19 and leading the American League Central over Cleveland by three games.

This was a club coming off the worst season in franchise history at 59-103 in 2016. It was obvious in March that the Twins’ fan base had crossed over from disgust to disinterest.

There was so much apathy that articles posted at startribune.com could sit for days without so much as a single cheap shot among a piddling number of comments.

This was supposed to be the spring of the Wild, and then Bruce Boudreau’s lads determinedly kept hitting St. Louis goalie Jake Allen with the puck and lasted only five games — from April 12 to April 22.

This left a little air surrounding the sporting public for the Twins to breathe, and the respectable play of the early weeks of the season caused at least mild curiosity. Then came the sweep in Baltimore, and the naive came storming to the fore.

Were the Twins maneuvering into position to be “buyers” rather than “sellers” on the trade market? Would it be advisable to include No. 1 prospect and shortstop with the young talent needed to acquire starter from Pittsburgh?

Talk about premature nonsense.

The Twins were 26-21 after the back-to-back abominations: blowing a lead and losing the longest home game (by time) in Twins history Sunday and giving up the largest number of bullpen runs (14) in Twins history Monday. 2

The Twins lost again Tuesday night, 7-2 to Houston, in game No. 48. That is 30 percent of a baseball schedule. It is a mere hint as to how a season will turn out, especially with a team that has played above the level of its talent.

The Twins were five games over and the Cubs were an even .500 after Memorial Day games. You think there’s any long-term reality in that scenario?

What the Cubs have indicated is that it might not be as easy as last season, but they remain likely to win 90 games. What the Twins have shown is they are unlikely to lose 90 or more, which occurred in five of the previous six seasons.

Gordon and more to acquire Cole, so you might be able to finish eight games behind Cleveland in the Central rather than 15? That would be genius.

Let’s remember last fall:

The Twins didn’t flat out say it, but they told us when firing Terry Ryan and bringing in a 30-years-younger boss in Derek Falvey that this was a start over from 59-103 — an excavation project, not a remodeling.

Thirty percent of the schedule doesn’t change that. First place on Memorial Day doesn’t change that, not with the Indians about to start winning.

Jason Kipnis back, Michael Brantley back, Edwin Encarnacion’s power bat ready to join the party … and you don’t think Cleveland is going to win 90?

Maybe not. Maybe bad things will happen to Cleveland. For sure, the Twins have to wait to the middle of July to make any bold moves to improve the long odds for 2017 while risking damage to their long-term prospects.

Yes, but the Twins “owe the fans” something after this horrible stretch of seasons. That’s the cliché we hear from the baseball naive.

They are correct. The something the Twins owe the sporting public is a commitment to the full rebuild that was the motive in hiring Falvey, then 33, last fall.

“We stink, Derek. Build this thing from bottom to top. Bring us back. And we’ll keep taking our lumps in ticket sales, corporate sales, TV ratings for the few more years that we understand it’s going to take.”

That was an unspoken message, but it’s what owner Jim Pohlad signed up for when he made the biggest upheaval in this franchise since the fall of 1985. That’s when his father, Carl, turned the baseball operation over to 32-year-old Andy MacPhail.

The Twins won the World Series two years later.

The difference is , , , Greg Gagne, Jeff Reardon, and aren’t walking through the door for Falvey.

Actually, Bert is, but as a TV announcer with a relaxed schedule.

Two months in and it’s looking like the 2017 Twins won’t lose 90, meaning the rebuild for Falvey is right on its long schedule.

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Perkins throws to live hitters; Sano scratched from Twins lineup due to illness La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | May 30, 2017

The hitters were in workout gear and surrounded by a batting cage. The pitcher threw from behind a protective L-screen. It was simulated baseball at its best Tuesday.

But it was the first time Glen Perkins has faced hitters since early April of 2016. He ended that 14-plus-month void by throwing to a couple of hitters in the latest step of his comeback from shoulder surgery.

“It felt good,” he said. “It was something where I needed the adrenaline to move it along.”

The radar gun was not on as Perkins faced Chris Gimenez and Ehire Adrianza, so it was difficult to tell how hard he threw. Perkins threw fastballs, including his sinker, and saved his slider for another day. Gimenez did homer twice against Perkins but still was impressed how he looked. “He threw some two-seamers that had some late action,” Gimenez said of Perkins’ sinker.

Between warming up in the bullpen and the batting practice session, Perkins said he threw 40 pitches.

“I felt better coming out of it than I anticipated,” he said. “So that was a good hurdle for me to clear. I did feel good, and how I felt is going to allow me to push it further on Friday.”

Perkins then started packing for Fort Myers, Fla., where he will enter the next phase of his rehabbing a torn labrum. He’ll throw a few more sessions similar to Tuesday’s before increasing his activity. Eventually, the three-time All-Star will pitch in extended spring training games and start a final push toward returning to the majors.

Perkins said he’s going to start working on his slider.

“We’re going to get him a few more situations of doing similar things [as Tuesday] and maybe expand it to some game situations where he has to run around and cover bases, hold runners and do all those things and then get him into some games eventually,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “But [Tuesday] was a good step.”

Byron Buxton starts for Twins despite lacerated finger La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | May 31, 2017

Twins outfielder Byron Buxton was in the starting lineup Tuesday vs. the Astros, one day after suffering a lacerated right finger while diving for a ball.

Manager Paul Molitor thought Buxton would be too sore to grip a baseball or swing a bat, but Buxton was examined by trainers and given the go-ahead to play.

“It kind of caught me off guard,” Molitor said.

Buxton reached base three times in the 7-2 loss, with two singles and a walk, before flying out to deep right center in the ninth.

Buxton cut the finger when his hand was spiked by left fielder Eddie Rosario, who caught the fly ball they were chasing while sliding.

Hughes update

Righthander Phil Hughes has had some of the symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome return because of scar tissue buildup that had caused tightness in his neck and shoulder. Hughes’ 2016 season ended because of surgery to treat the syndrome.

Rehabilitation has been recommended, and Hughes will try soft tissue and mobility therapy. The decision was made after Hughes flew to Dallas to be examined by Dr. Gregory Pearl on Monday.

The Twins did not announce a timetable for Hughes to attempt to throw in the bullpen.

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Etc.

• was scheduled to start for the Astros on Wednesday but was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of a sore shoulder. Righthander David Paulino will take his place on the roster. Houston played with 24 players on Tuesday but planned to call up a reliever for Wednesday’s game.

MLB mock drafts: Twins will pass on fame, versatility with No. 1 pick Jason Gonzalez | Star Tribune | May 30, 2017

The Twins will select the No. 1 pick in the 2017 MLB draft in less than two weeks and it is still unclear what direction the franchise is leaning.

Derek Falvey, the Twins new chief baseball officer, has indicated there are about five prospects the front office is considering for the top pick. Among that group are three obvious favorites.

The short list includes Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) righthanded pitcher/shortstop Hunter Greene, Louisville two-way star (lefthanded pitcher/first baseman) Brendan McKay, and Vanderbilt righthanded pitcher Kyle Wright. Recent reports suggest the Twins will not take a risk on Greene and their attention is focused on two college stars.

Here is a roundup of the most recent MLB mock drafts:

Jim Callis of MLB.com suggests the Twins have their eyes on Wright, Vanderbilt’s star pitcher, for the top pick. However, earlier this month, Callis had McKay as the No. 1 pick.

The most famous player in this Draft is California high school right-hander Hunter Greene, who can reach 102 mph with his fastball and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated last month. But he probably won't be the No. 1 overall pick by the Twins when the Draft kicks off 17 days from now.

The most versatile player in the Draft is Louisville first baseman/left-hander Brendan McKay, who could be a top-five selection as either a hitter or a pitcher. While he has generated more 1-1 buzz than any player this spring, he no longer looks like the favorite to head to Minnesota.

That distinction now belongs to Vanderbilt right-hander Kyle Wright, who has a higher ceiling than McKay and a higher floor than Greene. After uncharacteristic command issues led to a slow start, Wright has dominated the past six weeks, compiling a 1.16 ERA while allowing just 17 hits and eight walks against 62 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. While the Twins have yet to finalize a decision, other teams choosing at the top of the Draft think he'll be the No. 1 choice. …

Minnesota is doing its due diligence on six players: Wright, McKay, Greene, North Carolina high school lefty MacKenzie Gore, California prep outfielder -- the consensus top five prospects -- plus Virginia first baseman Pavin Smith. Wright and McKay appear to be at the top of the Twins' list, and they're unlikely to make Greene the first high school righty ever taken at No. 1.

Baseball America’s John Manuel also picked Wright as the Twins’ top pick.

Minnesota appeared to be leaning toward Brendan McKay as a hitter rather than on the mound. Some evaluators agree he has more looseness at the plate than he does on the mound, and may have more upside as a hitter. The best combination of upside and modest risk is Vanderbilt righthander Kyle Wright, who got the week off at the SEC Tournament after the Commodores lost a play-in game.

Keith Law, ESPN senior writer, predicted earlier this month the top two picks would be McKay or Greene, but on Tuesday bumped Wright to No. 1.

Scouting departments will begin their meetings later this week or at the beginning of next week, meaning that there are still no definites even at the top, but I have more information on team preferences than I did two weeks ago. Most of the names on this mock were somewhere on the last one, but the order has changed from pick No. 1. …

I’ve heard that the Twins are in on at least four players at No. 1, including Brendan McKay (as a bat or a two-way guy but not just as a pitcher), Mackenzie Gore and Hunter Greene, but the current betting in the industry is that they will take Wright as the prospect with the best 5 combination of floor and ceiling.

Jay Jaffe at Sports Illustrated in mid-May had the Twins picking McKay.

The general consensus within the industry is that the Twins will tab a two-way player, but that it won't be recent SI cover subject Hunter Greene. Instead, they're apparently leaning towards McKay, who is considered the safer bet. Some scouts consider the 6'2”, 214 lb lefty swinger the best pure hitter in the draft class thanks to his smooth swing and all-fields approach. Others like his 89-93 mph fastball, plus curveball and average changeup and see someone with a quick pathway to being a No. 3 starter, particularly given the expectation that he'll gain velocity once he focuses on pitching full time. Even if Minnesota takes him here, it's not clear which path the team will have him take.

Perfect Game selected Greene as the top pick in early May.

Greene has everything he needs to become the 1st prep RHP drafted #1 overall. He's made a jump from easy upper 90s last summer to reaching digits this spring and will still only be 17 years old on draft day. He's also shown the breaking ball and changeup to go with it and has huge impact potential; not to mention he's also a 1st round talent with the bat, having won the HR Derby at the PG All-American Classic last summer.

Hero Sports bumped McKay above Greene into the No. 1 spot.

We had hunter green here last time, and he's still very much in play with the first pick. So are a handful of other players, including Kyle Wright and a possible surprise prep pitcher like but not limited to MacKenzie Gore. Ultimately, I think the Twins prefer McKay's safety a little more, and that's the pick. For now.

Tony-O puts Altuve in AL's top two, and the other one is injured Patrick Reusse| Star Tribune | May 31, 2017

My conversations with date to 1974, when he was the Twins designated hitter and I was the beat reporter for the St. Paul newspapers. Forty three years later, Tony still ranks in the top one when it comes to my favorite sports figures in the Twin Cities.

Over those decades, I’ve asked Oliva for hundreds of assessments of ballplayers. I’ve discovered if you ask Tony about a player from Latin America, the odds are strong there will be an optimistic review.

On Tuesday night, the Twins were beaten 7-2 by Houston, with Jose Altuve collecting four of the Astros' 10 hits. He also had three in Monday’s 16-8 victory.

The second baseman from Maracay, Venezuela is now batting .439 in 23 road games and .320 overall.

There was a postgame visit to the visitors clubhouse at Target Field. Later, I was getting off the elevator at the press box. Tony and his partner Alfonso Fernandez had done a Spanish language radio broadcast for the Twins and were waiting for said elevator.

“What do you think of the second baseman, Senor?’’ I asked Oliva.

I knew that Tony-O was going to be praiseworthy of Altuve. I didn't know it was going to such spontaneous enthusiasm.

Tony’s eyes grew wide. He grabbed my left arm and gave it a yank. “That little man, that little hombre … he is one of the two best,’’ Oliva said. “He’s one of the top two players in the league.’’

Presumably, the other player in that twosome would be Mike Trout, the Angels’ center fielder. And with Trout out for weeks with torn ligaments in a thumb, that makes Altuve the best player in the American League in June and July, at a minimum.

,That’s the way he’s viewed in Oliva’s world, anyway, and I’m thinking it’s easy to agree with Tony.

Altuve is now 27. He was a rookie with the Astros for a couple of months in 2011. He was the second baseman in Houston’s last National League season in 2012 and made the All-Star team.

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He missed the American League All-Star team in 2013, but has been part of it for the past three seasons. At season’s end, he has led the AL in hits in all three: 225 in 2014, 200 in 2015 and 216 in 2016.

Altuve was the batting champion in 2014 and 2016, and he’s batting a combined .331 over the past three seasons. He is listed at 5-foot-6. If anything, that’s generous.

We all have appreciated Dustin Pedroia for being an amazing second baseman and hitter with short, strong frame. Altuve is every bit Pedroia’s equal, and with great years ahead of him.

Don’t look now but this could be a cycle when the American League has a pair of Hall of Fame second basemen at 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-5.

Altuve was third in the AL’s MVP voting last season, when the Astros missed the playoffs. Now, Houston has the best record and most- impressive team in baseball, at 37-16, and Altuve is the leader of a fantastic lineup.

How good? Alex Bregman is a young third baseman who was so well thought of that he was part of the USA’s roster in the World Baseball Classic. He was batting ninth for the Astros on Tuesday (and hit a ).

“Everyone knows he is not a ninth hitter,’’ Altuve said. “With our lineup, this was where A.J. batted him. It was perfect.’’

A.J. Hinch is Houston’s manager. I said to him after the game: “For those who don’t see your club regularly, the second baseman is amazing.’’

Hinch said: “I get to see him every day. He’s remarkable. He’s a great person and loves to compete. He represents what everybody aspires to in this game.’’

Twins unsure if third baseman Miguel Sano will play Wednesday La Velle E. Neal III | Star Tribune | May 30, 2017

A couple notes after the Twins' third straight defeat:

Sano update: Miguel Sano took batting practice before the game and was ready to play, but then he got sick. As in revisiting his lunch sick. He watched the first seven innings from the bench before he was sent home. The Twins aren't sure if he will be available for Wednesday's matinee. We'll see how he is in the morning," Twins manager Paul Molitor said.

Wheeler's debut: Jason Wheeler made his major league debut, giving up a run over two innings of work. "Heart was racing a little more than normal," he said, "but it was good to get the first one out of the way." He had a group of 10 friends and family members cheering him on. It included his wife, who flew in from their home in Durham, N.C. He almost got out of the ninth unscathed. hit a grounder to Joe Mauer, who flipped to Wheeler as he charged for the bag. "I've made that a lot of times, catching the ball barehanded," Wheeler said. "I took my eye off of it." He dropped the ball and Springer was safe. Then he walked Josh Reddick. Then Jose Altuve reached after Mauer couldn't scoop Polanco's throw in the dirt (he usually does). That allowed Springer to score. Then Reddick scored on a single. All after Wheeler couldn't hold on to the toss. "I gotta catch that throw," he said.

Adrianza's play: The Twins might have gotten out of the fifth unscathed if Ehire Adrianza had fielded Jose Altuve's sharp grounder. He had a chance at an inning-ending double play. The ball took a bad hop on him. At first I didn't think it was a bad play. Having looked at replays a few times, I think Adrianza could have made the play, and the scorer could have given him an error.

Bullpen decisions remain most mysterious made by Falvey regime Patrick Reusse | Star Tribune | May 30, 2017

The evidence suggests that the idea to hit Bryce Harper with a pitch came from the brain of San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland and not his manager Bruce Bochy. There was a report on Tuesday suggesting that Strickland actually had told Buster Posey of his intention to drill Harper, and for the catcher to make no move to prevent Harper from charging the mound.

Also Tuesday, it was announced that intended to suspend Harper for four games and Strickland for six. Both will appeal, with the Nationals missing a great deal more without Harper for four days than the Giants without Strickland for six.

Strickland hit Harper in the left hip with a 98-mile-per-hour fastball. This led to a discussion on Tuesday:

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If the Twins had a grievance with an opponent that they considered to be HBP worthy, what reliever would be assigned the task?

Ryan Pressly would be the obvious answer, since he has been known to hit 98 with his fastball. Trouble is, Pressly has been so discombobulated for most of this season that if he tried to drill a left-handed hitter the pitch might wind up in the right-handed batter’s box.

Brandon Kintzler is next among the relievers with a fastball that’s frequently at 95. The complication there is it might hit the target in the top of the shoe, since most of Kintzler’s fastballs are sinkers.

Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers have been the Twins’ best relievers, but they are not hard throwers. And the remaining trio for Tuesday night’s bullpen consisted of Matt Belisle, Craig Breslow, Buddy Boshers and rookie Jason Wheeler.

Drew Rucinski, a journeyman righthander, was sent back to Rochester after a one-day stay. Boshers, a journeyman lefthander, was the replacement. Rucinski has had two quick stays with the Twins and this will be the third for Boshers.

Wheeler is a starter who was brought in as long-relief protection after Sunday’s excruciating 15-inning, 6 ½-hour death march vs. Tampa Bay. He’s a big gent but doesn’t throw hard.

There can’t be another team in the major leagues with fewer mid-90s relievers than the Twins (two). And there can’t be another team with relievers that feature as many fastballs in the 80s.

It is absolutely stupefying the Twins keep bringing in veteran deckhands such as Rucinski and Boshers to mop up lost causes rather than to take a look at prospects with live arms:

Righthanders Trevor Hildenberger and Alan Busenitz at Class AAA Rochester, and lefthander Mason Melotakis and righthander John Curtiss at Class AA Chattanooga.

You get into the eighth inning, as did the Twins on Monday, and you have to go back to Belisle -- when he’s been reeling and obviously is cooked after throwing 30 pitches on Sunday?

You have to do that because the manager has been provided with relievers that he doesn’t trust to put into a game that’s still winnable.

Baseball boss Derek Falvey and his brain trust have been making the decision to provide Paul Molitor with journeymen of minor resume rather than a rookie or two with chances to become a trusted assets in the bullpen.

Twins' relievers left few options Jim Souhan | Star Tribune | May 30, 2017

A 15-inning loss on Sunday. The largest blown eighth-inning lead in team history on Monday. Those two games prompted plenty of criticisms of Twins' manager Paul Molitor's handling of his bullpen.

I'm not sure what he could have done differently. And I've already suggested a fix for baseball's frequently-taxed bullpens.

After the 15-inning loss, the Twins called up two pitchers, Drew Rucinski and Jason Wheeler.

So why didn't Molitor use his fresh pitchers on Monday?

Well, Wheeler was meant to be a long reliever. He was called up in case Ervin Santana couldn't pitch deep into the game.

Rucinski had thrown 31 pitches on Saturday, so he was somewhat fresh. He also is not considered as reliable as the other options in the bullpen, or he already would have been in the majors.

Ryan Pressly began the Astros' comeback with his lack of control. He pitched as if he were tired. He also has struggled at times during his Twins career when he is fresh.

Should Molitor have used Rucinski? Easy to say now. I would say if the best setup men in a first-place team's bullpen can't hold a six-run lead, it's probably more about the pitching than the decision-making.

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This weekend also affirmed my previous opinion on big-league rosters. Every team should carry a 13-man pitching staff, but with two pitchers a day being made ``inactive.'' This accomplishes many things:

-Prevents last-minute callups of pitchers who are required to fly into town and be ready to pitch immediately, and probably get sent right back down to the minors.

-Prevents managers from using pitchers who probably shouldn't be used on short rest.

-Creates a roster with 14 position players, meaning you'll see more strategic offensive moves at the end of close games instead of constant pitching changes that hold down scores and comebacks.

You could even install a rule that the two inactive pitchers are not allowed into that day's game unless it surpasses 10 innings.

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Roy Smalley will join me at 6 on Wednesday at Hell's Kitchen in downtown Minneapolis for Roy Smalley's Chin Music, our baseball show on MNSPN.com. Please stop by for live questions and Roy's storytelling.

Murphy: Berrios isn’t the Twins’ stopper. Not yet, anyway. Brian Murphy | Pioneer Press | May 30, 2017

The coronation of pitching knight Jose Berrios stalled Tuesday night at Target Field, his sedan chair lapped by the relentless Houston Astros, who secured another win and pinned the first loss of 2017 on the promising right-hander.

It is wholly unfair to expect a 23-year-old still earning his big-league bona fides to carry the swagger of a rotation stalwart, where losing streaks, hitting slumps and crises of confidence die every fifth day.

“I’m not going to put ‘stopper’ along with Jose’s name at this juncture,” manager Paul Molitor said after a meek 7-2 defeat, his team’s third straight.

But here are the Twins at the end of another futile homestand, their wheezing bullpen hemorrhaging runs like contending frauds.

With Berrios and fellow right-hander Ervin Santana starting, hope springs eternal for Minnesota. Every other pitcher on staff forces you to peek with dread through pinched fingers, especially at home, where the Twins plunged to a major league-worst 12-17.

Baseball’s best team exploited the wildness and penchant for falling behind that the Twins’ top pitching prospect had exorcised in his since earning his latest promotion from Triple-A.

Three starts produced three wins, each more impressive than the last. Berrios struck out 22 over 21 2/3 innings and had walked just four hitters. He matched that number of free passes in just five innings against Houston.

Berrios only needed three pitches to whiff George Springer to start the game but promptly walked Josh Reddick to foreshadow the sloppiness that doomed his early lead and sawed off his shortest outing.

Astros starter Mike Fiers, recently banished to the bullpen, was summoned for an emergency start to back fill Houston’s battered rotation. The sirens were blaring after the Twins sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the first to spoon-feed Berrios a 2-0 cushion.

But their bats went silent against Fiers, who survived long enough to earn the victory after the Astros chopped away at the Twins starter. Berrios opened the third by getting ahead 1-2 on Marwin Gonzalez before nicking him in the foot with a breaking ball. That gaffe disrupted Berrios’ momentum and cost him a run after a Yuli Gurriel double and Alex Bregman sacrifice fly.

The Astros loaded the bases in the fourth and fifth innings against Berrios, who fell behind frequently and struggled with his command. With Jason Wheeler warming behind him in the bullpen following a mound visit from pitching coach Neil Allen, Berrios yielded the tying run after inducing Brian McCann to bounce into a double play.

Springer almost decapitated Berrios with a rocket single in the fifth. A nine-pitch walk to Reddick was Berrios’ fourth free pass of the night, and it proved most damning. 9

Altuve followed with a two-run single on a sharp grounder that skipped past third baseman Ehire Adrianza, who left his matador’s cape in the dugout in a spot start for an ill Miguel Sano.

Berrios rarely found himself in trouble scissoring through the daunting lineups of Cleveland, Colorado and Baltimore in his three wins. But this was the most prolific hitting team in the majors, a relentless nine-man attack that has the Astros sitting 21 games above .500 with a double-digit lead in the hapless American League West.

They patiently extracted 103 pitches out of Berrios and made him grind through almost every at-bat by nimbly fighting off several tough two- strike offerings.

Meltdowns branded Berrios as not-ready-for-prime time in 2016, but he earned praise from his manager for containing most of the damage despite not having his premier stuff.

“Jose didn’t have great command, (but) I told him I was proud of him,” Molitor said. “It wasn’t like they were driving the ball all over the park, but they made him pay, they made him work. That’s what a good offensive lineup can do.”

So Molitor went to his overworked and disjointed bullpen in the sixth, which was like handing out free Zippos to a bunch of pyromaniacs. Torched by Houston for a franchise-record 11 runs in Monday’s loss, Minnesota’s back ended yielded three more runs after Berrios had been chased.

“It’s tough with a lineup like that, but I never lose my confidence,” he said. “I tried to compete every pitch. One bad night. Get it done and get ready for the next one.”

Jason Castro making expected defensive impact for Twins Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 30, 2017

Jason Castro spent nine seasons in the Houston Astros organization before signing with the Twins this offseason, so Tuesday night had to seem a little strange for the veteran catcher.

Playing for the first time against his former employer, which chose to trade for Brian McCann rather than retain the defensively oriented incumbent, Castro doubled, struck out three times and was unable to coax young Jose Berrios past the fifth in a 7-2 loss at Target Field.

This came barely 48 hours after Castro finished squatting for 289 pitches while catching all 15 innings of Sunday’s marathon loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, but you weren’t about to hear any excuses from the former first-round pick out of Stanford.

“That’s unbelievable,” Twins outfielder Robbie Grossman said of his former Astros teammate. “I don’t think people realize how hard that is to do. That just shows how much he means to this team and what he’s done for this team since he’s come over.”

Critics will seize on the .214 batting average, but Castro earned that three-year, $24.5 million contract in large part for his defensive wizardry. Namely, throwing, receiving, game-calling and pitch-framing.

“He’s doing a lot of those things that helped him build the reputation he has,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “I think it’s just more to the naked eye in terms of how our pitchers seem to be able to respond and have confidence in the fingers he’s putting down.”

They also like the fact, Molitor noted, that Castro is throwing out attempted base stealers at a 42 percent clip while “blocking the ball really well all year long.”

Along with backup catcher Chris Gimenez, Castro has given a first-place team a big defensive upgrade over last year’s primary combo of Kurt Suzuki, now with the Atlanta Braves, and Juan Centeno, who signed with the Astros and has spent most of the year at Triple-A.

“He’s just doing some of the more fundamental things at a high level,” Molitor said, “and some of the deeper things are borne out by the numbers, too. We talk some games about pitches that we stole or pitches that we got.”

While Castro turned himself into a top-five pitch framer over his final three seasons with the Astros, a key factor in their transformation from a team that averaged 108 losses from 2011-13 to a perennial playoff contender, the data points aren’t piling up in his favor just yet.

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Entering the week, Castro’s 1.9 framing runs above average, as measured by Baseball Prospectus, ranked just 15th out of 104 total catchers. Suzuki was 23rd, while McCann was 25th and Gimenez 32nd.

Judging from Jonathan Lucroy’s sudden pitch-framing struggles in Texas after landing there in a deadline trade last summer, Castro’s slow start in that area should come as no surprise as he learns his new staff. Then again, the more important thing is how his pitchers feel as they work to his 6-foot-3 target.

If it seems Twins pitchers, from Tyler Duffey to Matt Belisle to even groundball-machine closer Brandon Kintzler, are working more effectively at the top end of the strike zone, that’s no accident.

“Castro is one of the taller catchers, so he can make that pitch look lower than it is sometimes,” Twins reliever Taylor Rogers said. “If you can throw four-seamers on that top quadrant, that’s another pitch for you.”

Staying with big-breaking curveballs, an Astros staple in recent years, is another Castro talent, as is the ability to make darting two-seamers seem like strikes to the only one that counts: the umpire.

“When Kintzler is throwing and Castro sets up outside to a righty, he angles himself back into the plate,” Rogers said. “Not a lot, but just enough. I think that frees him up to bring that two-seamer back. It’s a good visual for the umpire.”

Meaning?

“That way he’s catching it square on his body,” Rogers said. “It might not be on the plate, but to the umpire it looks like he caught it right on his chest.”

Old-school fans like to mock pitch-framing, but to the guys that throw for a living, it’s a very real thing.

“Over time and throughout a game, the impact that has is huge,” Rogers said. “It’s one of those things that go unseen that are big, and I like that kind of stuff. It just allows you to have comfort and confidence out there that he can steal one every now and then.”

Glen Perkins set for next phase of rehab in Florida after facing hitters Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | May 30, 2017

Twins reliever Glen Perkins gave up a pair of long home runs to Chris Gimenez during Tuesday afternoon’s 23-pitch mound session, but that wasn’t about to wipe the smile off the pitcher’s face.

Not after Perkins, more than 11 months removed from major shoulder surgery, went 415 days since last facing hitters in early April 2016 in Kansas City.

“I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do what I did today,” Perkins said. “Coming out of it, I love where I’m at physically and mentally. That’s the best thing.”

Gimenez, who also swung and missed at the second pitch of the live batting practice session, estimated Perkins was throwing 84-86 mph as he prepares to fly to Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday to continue his rehab at extended spring training.

“I went out and told him I was very impressed with the velo,” said Gimenez, the Twins’ backup catcher. “It had a little behind it. It had some heaviness to it, I guess you could say.”

Perkins, who threw 40 total pitches, including his warm-ups in the bullpen, decided to save his slider for his next live BP session Friday. After three or four more such tests, he should be ready to start a 30-day rehab assignment with the Class A Miracle.

Perkins, who also faced utility man Ehire Adrianza, mixed in a few sinkers that caught Gimenez’s attention as well.

“It was slower and it had some fade to it,” he said. “It was a strike for so long, and at the very end it just kind of dives down.”

Eight of Perkins’ pitches were put in play, while another six were fouled off without leaving the BP shell. Perkins threw from behind a protective L-screen, which added to the awkwardness, but he said the intensity he reached was “pretty close” to 100 percent. 11

“There’s that next level where I’m going to really get on it,” he said. “I’m not there yet, but I think the only way I’m going to get there is by facing hitters and continuing to ramp up the adrenaline. I know my arm is strong enough to do it.”

Overcast weather with temperatures in the mid-50s made it a little tougher to get loose, but that shouldn’t be a problem once he returns to Florida.

“I think I psyched myself out more than I needed to,” he said. “I felt better coming out of it than I anticipated. I think that was a good hurdle for me to clear. To be able to do those things and come out probably feeling the best I have since I’ve had surgery is a good thing.”

HUGHES PLAN

Twins right-hander Phil Hughes returned from Monday’s exam in Dallas with vascular specialist Gregory Pearl and was told his upper arm issues aren’t related to a recurrence of thoracic outlet syndrome, for which he underwent surgery last July.

Instead, it appears Hughes is experiencing tightness in his neck and shoulder area related to scar tissue left over from the procedure, which involved the removal of a half-rib behind his throwing shoulder. Hughes, who has yet to throw since being placed on the disabled list after his last start on May 21, could soon play catch once he’s symptom free to see if there has been any improvement.

First, however, Hughes will undergo “a rigorous soft tissue and mobility rehab regimen,” according to a Twins spokesman.

Pearl performed TOS surgery on Twins Triple-A right-hander Nick Tepesch in August 2015, when Tepesch was still with the Texas Rangers, former employer of current Twins general manager .

BUXTON BACK

Center fielder Byron Buxton was back in the Twins’ lineup after leaving with a cut on the outside of his right ring finger a day earlier.

He even went out for early work on his bunting.

“It kind of caught me off guard,” Molitor said. “I just thought there might be a little bit of difficulty today in terms of gripping and throwing the ball and swinging the bat. Our training staff came in early and gave me a heads-up he was good to go.”

Molitor liked what he heard from Buxton as well.

“I made him look me in the face and tell me he’s good, so he’s in there,” Molitor said.

BRIEFLY

Third baseman Miguel Sano was a late scratch due to a stomach virus that caused team trainers to send him home around the sixth or seventh inning. His availability for Wednesday’s 12:10 p.m. series finale was unclear. Ehire Adrianza replaced Sano at third base and had a bunt hit in four at-bats.

Infielder Eduardo Escobar returned just before Tuesday’s first pitch after making an overnight trip to Miami, where he continued the interview process in his pursuit of permanent U.S. resident status. A native of Venezuela, Escobar now makes his offseason home in Miami.

The promotion of lefty Jason Wheeler, an eighth-round pick who worked two innings Tuesday in his big-league debut, ended an ignominious drought for the Twins. He became the first member of their 2011 draft class to reach the majors. Infielder Levi Michael and outfielder Travis Harrison, taken 30th and 50th overall, remain in the system at Double-A Chattanooga. Lefty David Hurlbut, a 28th-round pick, is in the rotation at Triple-A Rochester. Since the draft started in 1965, 1983 remains the only year the Twins failed to send at least one member of their June draft class to the majors.

Gimenez, who drew his second four-pitch walk in three days Monday, was proud of his restraint after receiving what he termed his second-ever 3-0 green light in pro ball. The first came in 2004 at rookie-level Mahoning Valley, when his first manager (and current third- base coach) Mike Sarbaugh threatened to fine him $100 if he didn’t swing as hard as he could. “I hit a three-run homer over the light tower,” Gimenez said of his first professional homer.

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Santiago out to slow Astros in series finale Shane Jackson | MLB | May 31, 2017

The Twins and Astros will conclude their three-game series on Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. CT at Target Field. Left-hander Hector Santiago will take the ball for Minnesota, while Houston will trot out right-hander David Paulino for the finale.

The Astros will be trying to extend their six-game winning streak.

Santiago (4-4, 4.31 ERA) switched to working exclusively out of the stretch over the weekend, when he suffered a pair of losses to the Rays. In his start Friday, Santiago gave up three runs across 5 1/3 innings of work. He then pitched the 15th inning of Sunday's marathon loss, serving up consecutive solo homers to Evan Longoria and Logan Morrison. Last season, Santiago allowed the most homers off sinkers and two-seamers (23) in all of baseball.

Paulino, the Astros' No. 3-ranked prospect by MLBPipeline.com, will start Wednesday in place of Joe Musgrove, who was placed on the DL with shoulder discomfort. It will be Paulino's second big league start. The 6-foot-7 Paulino went on the DL with a bone bruise in his elbow at the end of Spring Training and was activated on May 12. He made three starts at Triple-A Fresno, allowing 11 hits and nine walks while striking out 13 batters in 14 innings.

"If he's in the strike zone, he's been effective, and when he's sprayed the ball a little bit, he's been ineffective," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "Against a team like this it'll be important for him to throw strikes, because that's the way you attack this team."

Three things to know: • The last time we saw Santiago was in relief Sunday, when he allowed back-to-back homers to Longoria and Morrison in the 15th inning against the Rays. Morrison's homer came against a sinker from Santiago, symbolizing a troubling trend from a pitcher who throws sinkers and two- seamers nearly 60 percent of the time. Santiago also gave up a homer off a sinker in his start two days before against Tampa Bay, and has allowed eight total round-trippers off those two pitches -- the most of any pitcher in baseball. Santiago also allowed the most homers off sinkers and two-seamers last year (23).

• Left-handed batters are hitting .515 (17-for-33) against Santiago this season. He has allowed five of his 10 homers to lefties, despite 152 more at-bats against right-handed hitters.

• Josh Reddick is batting .353 with a trio of RBIs in 17 career at-bats against Santiago. Jose Altuve has a .304 clip in 23 at-bats lifetime off the Minnesota hurler.

A rare lapse in command costs Berrios Rhett Bollinger | MLB | May 31, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- One common thread among the three electric starts turned in by Twins right-hander Jose Berrios since getting called up from Triple-A Rochester on May 13, was his ability to get ahead of hitters and locate his pitches for strikes.

Berrios had improved his first-pitch strike rate from last year's 55.2 percent to 65.8 percent, while throwing 65.9 percent of his pitches for strikes, making him look like a different pitcher than in 2016, when he posted an 8.02 ERA in 14 starts as a rookie.

But the 23-year-old's command troubles came back at an inopportune time for the Twins on Tuesday, as they were coming off their two roughest losses of the year when Berrios allowed a season-high four runs on five hits and four walks over five innings in a 7-2 loss to the Astros.

Berrios threw first-pitch strikes to 11 of the 23 batters he faced (47.8 percent), while throwing 63 of his 104 pitches for strikes (60.6 percent). And against a tough Astros lineup, it was too much to overcome despite pitching his way out of a few jams.

"It's tough, especially with a lineup like that," said Berrios, who fell to 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA. "But I never lost my confidence. I tried to compete every pitch. That happens. It's one bad night. You have to erase it and get on to the next one."

Berrios was hurt by his four walks and also hit Marwin Gonzalez with a pitch to open the third, with Gonzalez ending up coming around to score on a sacrifice fly. He walked two straight batters to load the bases with nobody out in the fourth, but escaped the jam with a run-scoring double play despite falling behind Brian McCann, 3-0, and a strikeout of Gonzalez.

"He didn't have his great command, but I told him I was proud of him," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "When he didn't have his command in 13 the past, it was explosive. I thought he contained pretty well tonight. He got the double play on McCann."

But he wasn't as fortunate in the fifth, when he surrendered back-to-back singles to Alex Bregman and George Springer with one out after falling behind both hitters. He then walked Josh Reddick to load the bases with Jose Altuve coming up.

Berrios suffered some tough luck, as Altuve jumped on a first-pitch curveball that took a bad hop past third baseman Ehire Adrianza on a potential double-play ball to allow two runs to score. But it was the two hits after falling behind and the walk that led to the situation.

"Unfortunately, that ball scooted past Adrianza," Molitor said. "We had a chance to get out of that even. He created some opportunities with the hit batsman to open the inning and the walks. It wasn't anything major like they were hitting him all over the park, but they made him pay and made him work."

Berrios, though, was in good spirits after the game, as it was proof that he's learning how to pitch when he lacks command.

"I didn't have my command but I tried to do my best every inning," Berrios said. "I tried to hold the game so our team had a chance to win. It didn't happen but I still feel great. I have to make corrections from that game and adjust next time."

Twins can't sustain fast start vs. Astros Brian McTaggart & Shane Jackson | MLB | May 31, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman did enough offensively to back a strong start by right-hander Mike Fiers, as the Astros ran their winning streak to a season-high six games by pushing past the Twins, 7-2, on Tuesday night at Target Field.

Fiers recovered after a shaky first inning, tossing six innings of two-run ball while allowing five hits. Fiers, who has allowed 18 home runs this season, did not give up a long ball to the Twins. It marked the first time all season Fiers did not give up a homer in a start. The two runs charged to him came on a bases-loaded walk to Eddie Rosario and a RBI single by Byron Buxton.

"It was a great performance by Fiers," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He came into the game having been told he's out of the rotation. He gets back in the rotation and comes out and puts up a performance like that. He controlled the first inning, which was key, and really dialed it in from then on to the end of his outing. Really proud of him."

Altuve finished the evening 4-for-5, including a decisive two-run single in the fifth inning. Bregman halved the early deficit with a sacrifice fly in the third and then crushed a solo shot in the seventh. According to Statcast™, Bregman's homer traveled an estimated 401 feet with an exit velocity of 103.7 mph.

"It's a good lineup," said Bregman, who was hitting ninth. "You've got competitive at-bats all the way through. There's no let up for the other team's pitcher. It's fun to be part of an offense like that. Wherever he [Hinch] tells me to hit, I'm going to hit and be happy."

Minnesota right-hander Jose Berrios was handed his first loss of the year after three strong outings to begin his second campaign. Berrios lasted just five innings, his shortest outing this season, while giving up four runs off five hits and issuing four walks. He also ended his Major League- leading active streak of 14 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing a two-strike hit, which came courtesy of a fifth-inning single by Bregman.

"Jose didn't have his great command," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "However, I told him I was proud of him. A lot of times he hasn't had his command in the past, it's kind of been explosive. I thought he contained [them] fairly well tonight."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Altuve's road rage: Following consecutive one-out singles, Altuve seized control of the game in the fifth. The second baseman smacked a first- pitch curveball off Berrios, driving in a pair of runs to break the 2-2 deadlock. Altuve has now hit safely in all 13 career games at Target Field, including five three-hit showings in his last six games at the ballpark. Altuve is now batting .439 (36-for-82) away from Houston this year.

Fiers faces trouble: The Twins appeared poised for a big opening frame, as Fiers struggled to locate the strike zone at first. Fiers retired just two of the first seven batters he faced, including a pair of free passes, which loaded the bases. Fiers froze former teammate Jason Castro -- who caught his no-hitter in 2015 -- on a 2-1 heater to keep the deficit at just two runs. The fastball to end the first inning was his 30th pitch of the inning.

"Go right at them, that's what I was doing with all those guys," Fiers said. "Just trying to keep them off-balance, but be aggressive in the zone and expand later on with two strikes. I was able to do that and keep these guys to two runs." 14

QUOTABLE "You've got to earn your spot here, especially on a first-place team. I wasn't doing my job and so when [Hinch] told me I was going to the bullpen, I've got to do whatever the team needs and not try to think of it as a demotion. Just take it and work in my pitches and hopefully get another chance to get in there." -- Fiers, on his outing, which came a few days after he was told he was out of the rotation, and then was put back in when Charlie Morton went on disabled list

WHEELER MAKES DEBUT Twins left-hander Jason Wheeler made his Major League debut during Tuesday's loss. He threw a scoreless eighth inning, but gave up a pair of runs (one earned) to the Astros' potent offense in the ninth. In the end, Wheeler gave up three hits and walked a pair of batters in his first taste of the big league level.

"It's good to get the first one over, my heart was racing more than normal," Wheeler said. "I'm going to remember it as a success except for not catching that ball [at first base]. That's going to bug me. I could have been out of the inning, two clean innings to start."

WHAT'S NEXT Astros: The organization's No. 3 prospect, David Paulino, was called up to start in place of Joe Musgrove, who went on the disabled list Tuesday, in Wednesday's 12:10 p.m. CT finale at Target Field. Paulino, who appeared in three games for the Astros in September, allowed 11 hits and nine walks and struck out 13 in 14 innings in three starts at Triple-A Fresno.

Twins: Left-hander Hector Santiago (4-3, 4.07 ERA) is slated to start for Minnesota in the finale at 12:10 p.m. CT. Santiago pitched twice over the weekend series against the Rays, including a relief appearance during Sunday's 15-inning marathon.

Perkins clears hurdle with throwing session Rhett Bollinger | MLB | May 30, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins left-hander Glen Perkins, coming off left shoulder labrum surgery last June, faced hitters for the first time in nearly 14 months on Tuesday, throwing roughly 25 pitches to teammates Chris Gimenez and Ehire Adrianza at Target Field.

The three-time All-Star, who hasn't pitched for the Twins since April 10, 2016, was encouraged by his outing that saw him throw only two-seam, and four-seam fastballs. Perkins will head to the club's Spring Training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday to continue his rehab with another throwing session scheduled for Friday.

"I felt better coming out of it than I anticipated," Perkins said. "The biggest positive is that I threw in total probably 40 pitches between the bullpen and the mound. It hadn't been that high and obviously it hadn't been at that intensity level. So to be able to do those things and come out, probably feeling the best I've had, since the surgery."

Perkins said he wasn't quite at full intensity, as he believes there's another level he needs to get to as he continues his throwing program against hitters. Gimenez, though, still liked what he saw from Perkins, as he noted he's made a big leap in velocity since Spring Training.

"I was very happy for him," Gimenez said. "I immediately went up to him after and told him I was impressed with the way the ball was coming out of his hand. The last time I saw him throw a 'pen, I caught it in Spring Training. He was at like 65 mph, working through some things, but this time he was at like 84-86 [mph], but that's more of a guess."

Perkins, when healthy, averaged around 93 mph with his fastball, so he still has to build up his arm strength. He's also planning to incorporate his slider during his warmup session Friday, and has been throwing it on flat ground with no issues.

The plan is for him to throw to hitters three to five more times before seeing action in simulated games in Florida. Once he clears those hurdles, he'd then begin a Minor League rehab assignment.

"It was good to see him on the mound," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We'll get him a few more situations of doing similar things before we get him into some game situations where he's gotta run around, cover bases and hold runners. And then we can get into some games eventually. But today was a good step."

Worth noting • Right-hander Phil Hughes, who has been on the disabled list since May 22, received a second opinion on his right shoulder that found there are no issues related to his surgery last June to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome. But there could be some scar tissue he's working through that's affecting a nerve, Molitor said. 15

• Left-hander Buddy Boshers officially rejoined the Twins on Tuesday, getting recalled from Triple-A Rochester with Drew Rucinski being optioned after Monday's game. Boshers has a 4.38 ERA in 14 appearances at Rochester, and a 3.00 ERA in two appearances with Minnesota.

• Third baseman Miguel Sano was originally in Tuesday's starting lineup but was a late scratch due to an illness, the Twins said. Adrianza started in his place.

ESPN’s Keith Law tabs Kyle Wright as the presumed Twins’ top draft pick Derek Wetmore | ESPN 1500 | May 31, 2017

Kyle Wright is the buzz of the draft lately.

After months of mock drafts wondering if the Twins would make Hunter Greene or Brendan McKay the first overall selection in this June’s draft, it’s another guy that has closed fast on the home stretch.

With less than two weeks to go before the draft, ESPN’s Keith Law published his latest mock draft. Sitting atop the board is Vanderbilt righty Kyle Wright, although Law notes that he’s heard the Twins are in on as many as four guys for the first pick.

This season Wright has a 2.91 ERA and 104:27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 89 2/3 innings for the Commodores. The Alabama-native is listed at 6- foot-4, 220 pounds on the team’s website.

He was also the recent pick of , who pegged him as the likeliest selection for the Twins.

Despite considerable hype for prep pitcher Hunter Greene, one recent report said the Twins are not considering making him their first selection. If that’s true, it would be strange that they reportedly plan to have him throw and work out in front of Twins evaluators on June 9 in Minnesota.

FanGraphs’ prospect analyst, Eric Longenhagen, recently put Wright atop his big board.

It’s hard to say that there’s a consensus, because so many people and publications weigh in with their own opinion on the top of the draft. But if there is such a thing, it appears that Wright would be that guy as the mid-June draft approaches.

As for ESPN’s Law, he writes that the Twins could be in on Wright, McKay, Greene and prep lefty MacKenzie Gore. (That would seem to be more in line with CBO Derek Falvey’s preference toward waiting to make decisions until they need to be made.)

Law said that “the current betting in the industry is that they will take Wright as the prospect with the best combination of floor and ceiling.”

That’s also in line with what Baseball America’s John Manuel wrote about Wright a couple weeks ago, when he called the pitcher “the best combination of upside and modest risk.” Manuel also said that Wright has shown up to “four plus pitches at times,” and he could wind up as the first player selected in June.

Miguel Sano a late scratch from the lineup because of illness Derek Wetmore | ESPN 1500 | May 30, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS — Miguel Sano was originally penciled into the Twins’ lineup to play third base against the Astros on Tuesday. But about 45 minutes before the first pitch, the team announced he’d been scratched due to illness.

Sano was benched twice over the weekend for what manager Paul Molitor described as a way to recharge mentally for a guy who’d only missed one game all season. Ehire Adrianza will take his place at third base, and will hit 9th.

Sano is hitting .292/.406/.590 this year with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs.

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Twins will miss Mike Trout in upcoming Angels series Derek Wetmore | ESPN 1500 | May 30, 2017

Mike Trout will reportedly have surgery to fix his thumb, and the recovery timeline will keep him out for the Twins-Angels series this weekend.

When you’re the best player in baseball, there’s never a good time to have a torn thumb ligament. But the timing for the Twins is fortunate, if you can call player injuries ‘fortunate.’

Trout, 25, has already had a magnificent career, and this season has been his best to date at the plate. The center fielder is hitting .337/.461/.742 with 16 home runs 36 runs, 36 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Trout looked ready to take home another American League MVP, as he continues to raise the bar on his own expectations.

We’ll see how much time and production the injury will cost Trout. But for now, it’s relevant to Twins fans to point out that the 26-28 Angels just lost their best player for the 4-game series with Minnesota.

Twins’ bats go quiet in loss to league-leading Astros Associated Press | May 31, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS — After a demotion to Houston’s bullpen that never materialized, Mike Fiers pitched as though he still belongs in the rotation.

Jose Altuve had four hits and two RBIs, Fiers struck out eight over six innings, and the major league-leading Astros beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Tuesday night for their season-high sixth straight victory.

“It was very vintage Fiers for when he’s right,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “High fastballs and a curveball off that arm slot.”

The Twins were no match for the refined curveball that Fiers offered, flailing at it several times out of the strike zone.

“Obviously his numbers aren’t great this year, but he’s capable,” Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said, adding: “Don’t let the speed deceive you. It works.”

Alex Bregman homered and drove in two runs, providing further support for Fiers (2-2) in his best of 10 starts this season.

Fiers was sent to the bullpen last weekend to make room for Brad Peacock, until Charlie Morton landed on the disabled list. With Joe Musgrove joining Morton and Collin McHugh on the shelf Tuesday, the Astros have three absent starters and space anew for Fiers to stay in the starting five.

“You’ve got to earn your spot here, especially on a first-place team,” Fiers said, adding: “This team is special. It really is. No matter how they use me, I just want to be helpful to these guys.”

Fiers fell behind 2-0 in the first when Eddie Rosario drew a bases-loaded walk and Byron Buxton followed with an infield single, but the Astros (37-16) hacked their way back against starter Jose Berrios (3-1).

Bregman batted ninth in this stacked batting order.

“We have to give credit to the back of the lineup,” Altuve said, “because everybody it seems like is getting hits and scoring runs.”

Bregman hit a sacrifice fly in the third. Berrios loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth, allowing only one run thanks to a double play. But in the fifth, Altuve smashed a line drive at third baseman Ehire Adrianza, who missed with a swipe of his glove as the ball landed in left field for a two-run single and a 4-2 lead.

“Sometimes you don’t have your best day or your best night, so you have to compete with what you have,” Berrios said.

The AL Central-leading Twins have lost four of five games, falling to a league-worst 12-17 at home.

WILD BERRIOS

The Twins badly needed their budding star to go deep, after their relievers allowed 19 runs in 11 2/3 innings over the last two games. Berrios 17 gave up five hits and four walks in five innings, his shortest start this year, but Molitor told him he was proud of the effort to minimize the damage.

“The guy just turned 23, and we just hope that he can round out our rotation and give us an opportunity to win,” Molitor said. “I’m not going to put stopper along with Jose’s name at this juncture.”

ON TARGET

Altuve has a hit in all 13 games he’s played at Target Field, going 28 for 57 for a .491 batting average. He has three or more hits in five of his last six games here.

PROGRESS FOR PERKINS

Twins reliever Glen Perkins faced batters for the first time in more than a year during an encouraging pregame session. The news wasn’t as good for fellow veteran pitcher Phil Hughes, whose second opinion on his tight right shoulder revealed the potential of scar tissue buildup that could be causing the discomfort. He’ll need further treatment before he can resume throwing.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: Musgrove (right shoulder discomfort) was put on the 10-day DL, retroactive to Saturday. He’s eligible to return on June 6 and could miss only one turn.

Twins: 3B Miguel Sano (stomach virus), the team leader in batting average, home runs, RBIs and walks, was scratched before the game and later sent home.

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Astros: RHP David Paulino was recalled from Triple-A Fresno to replace Musgrove and make his season debut on Wednesday afternoon. The 6- foot-7 Paulino, one of the organization’s top prospects, made one start for the Astros last September.

Twins: RHP Hector Santiago (4-3, 4.07 ERA) will pitch the series finale, three days after an emergency 15th-inning appearance in relief when he gave up back-to-back homers in a defeat against Tampa Bay. He also took the loss on Friday against the Rays, in his previous start.

StaTuesday: Mauer’s multitude of multi-hit games Tom Dierberger | FOX Sports North | May 30, 2017

The only Minnesota Twins player to benefit from the 15-inning, 8-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday might just have been first baseman Joe Mauer, who may have hoped the game would’ve continued for another 15 innings.

He reached safely in seven — yes, seven — of his eight plate appearances, finishing 4 of 5 with three walks, two RBI and a run scored.

It was the first time Mauer had reached base seven times in one game. In fact, he’s reached safely six times just once — way back on Aug. 10, 2005 against the Seattle Mariners. Mauer, a 22-year-old pup at the time, picked up four hits and was intentionally walked twice to achieve the feat.

Mauer is the first player in this young MLB season to get on base seven times and is the 17th since the turn of the century. San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford and Washington’s Bryce Harper were the only two players to do it last season. Harper had a boring yet successful day at the plate, walking six times (three intentional) while also being hit by a pitch in a 4-3 loss to the last May.

Maybe Harper should get back to walking instead of throwing helmets at pitchers.

Anyway, Sunday marked Mauer’s 160th career game with at least three hits – ranking the 34-year-old at 163rd in MLB history in games with three or more hits since 1913. Notable names just ahead of Mauer on that list include Hall of Famers Barry Larkin, who finished his career with 166 three-hit games, and Frank Thomas with 164. finished his MLB career with 304 three-hit games, well behind the all-time leader Pete Rose (387).

In Twins history, Mauer is third in such games. Rod Carew tops the chart with 214 of his career 304 three-hit games coming in a Twins uniform. 18

Tony Oliva is just ahead of Mauer by two games in the Twins’ all-time four-hit performances. , who roamed center field for the Twins for only five seasons, ranks fifth in franchise history with 15 4+ hit games. Kirby Puckett began his MLB career with a four-hit performance, so it’s fitting that he leads the Twins with 47 career 4+ hit games.

Step that up one notch further, and Puckett has the lead again with six 5+ hit games — just one more than Mauer. Mauer hasn’t rallied for a five-hit game since 2013.

Mauer’s game on Sunday follows a trend throughout the month of May.

After his worst statistical April to date, Mauer followed it up with one of the best months of May in his career. His meager .225/.271/.275 April slash line was easily bested by a much-improved .351/.451/.545 mark a month later, highlighted by six multi-hit games and Mauer’s first career walk-off home run on May 5.

Twins Notes: Hughes, Perkins Jeff Todd | MLB Trade Rumors | May 30, 2017

While Phil Hughes of the Twins is experiencing some symptoms akin to those that led to thoracic outlet surgery previously, it seems that’s not the root cause this time around. As MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger provides on Twitter, a medical assessment shows that Hughes may be dealing with a build-up of scar tissue in his neck and shoulder area. He’ll undergo “a rigorous soft tissue and mobility rehab regimen in advance of beginning his throwing.”

Meanwhile, Twins lefty Glen Perkins is still traveling a long road back to the majors, but there are new signs of hope. As Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reports, Perkins was able to face hitters for the first time in over a year. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do what I did today,” said the veteran reliever. “Coming out of it I love where I’m at physically and mentally.” Perkins still needs to work in his slider and build up arm strength, of course, but he may not be far from a rehab assignment.

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