The Twins will use a four-man starting rotation to begin the season rather than go with the normal five-man group.
The decision was announced Thursday by manager Paul Molitor, who said there are enough days off in March to get by with four starters while they wait for Ervin Santana to return from his finger injury in April.
Odorizzi will be followed by Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios and Lance Lynn.
Berrios is third in line because the Twins feel it’ll set him up to start one of their games in Puerto Rico – his home country – Apr. 17 or 18 against Cleveland.
“I’m excited to pitch there in front of my family and friends in Puerto Rico,” Berrios said Wednesday
So, Odorizzi, Gibson and Berrios will face the Orioles while Lynn starts the first game of a two-game series in Pittsburgh. Odorizzi would then get his second start of the season against the Pirates, leaving Gibson in line to start the Twins’ Home Opener Apr. 5 against the Mariners.
However, the Twins are idle Mar. 30 and Apr. 3, so Molitor could reshuffle the rotation to line Berrios up for the Home Opener.
The season begins Mar. 29 at Baltimore.
