Samuel Deduno is in a great position to earn some bonus points with Ron Gardenhire.
He’s the starter tonight at Target Field, and if he can pitch deep into the game against Milwaukee, he’ll help an already-overworked bullpen that worked overtime last night.
In 14 innings against the Brewers, Minnesota’s bullpen tossed nine-plus innings, allowing the lineup enough time to scratch out a 6-5 win.
Deduno is making his second start after returning from Triple-A Rochester. In his first outing, he was roughed up by the Tigers, giving up six runs in six innings in a 6-0 loss last Friday. That was the night Minnesota got one hit off of Anibal Sanchez, with Joe Mauer ending the no-hitting with a single in the ninth.
The Brewers counter with Marco Estrada (4-2, 4.94 ERA), who went seven innings against Pittsburgh Friday, allowing just one run over seven innings in a 2-1 win.
Trevor Plouffe, who was put on the seven-day disabled list for a concussion, is now back on the roster. To make room, the Twins sent rookie Chris Colabello back to Rochester.
Plouffe was hitting .254 with four home runs, nine doubles and 17 RBIs in 37 games and 134 at-bats before the injury.
Colabello went 1-for-11 in five games with the Twins.
