Day off before loss to Braves benefits some Twins, but not all

The Twins entered Friday's 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves well-rested.

Or they were supposed to be, at least, after Thursday's day off in Fort Myers, Fla.

"I turned my alarm off, and I still woke up at 6:30," righthander Randy Dobnak said. "So it's kind of a problem I have."

Dobnak started Friday's game, throwing six groundballs and five strikeouts despite no extra sleep. That wasn't the only part of his off-day that went awry, as he had plans for sunset kayaking outing with Griffin Jax — "Get a little bit romantic," Dobnak joked — but the bookings filled up before the two could go.

The game was in North Port, Fla.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Wednesday he was hoping his players wouldn't sneak into the complex for the extra work, as he felt everyone needed a little break to power through the final 10 days of spring training. Dobnak did end up relaxing, playing video games with his roommate, catcher Mitch Garver, before walking to pick up some food.

Food was also the main part of Jorge Polanco's day away from the facility. "I just try to spend a lot of time with the family, do a cookout," the infielder said, adding he made steaks and Italian sausages. "… But I don't think we ever get to be not thinking about baseball, even if it's an off day. That's our job."

With Thursday off, Polanco had been away from baseball since exiting Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates because of some left adductor tightness. But he was able to hit, catch some ground balls and run Friday, his first real activity other than rehab in the past few days.

"It's feeling very good now," Polanco said.

While Polanco didn't play against the Braves, he did downplay the injury, which occurred on a diving play when he said he rolled over the ball. He added it felt like a pulled muscle, which is why the trainers pulled him from the Tuesday game early.

"In the next couple of days, Polo will be out there and playing," Baldelli said. "… I think two days sounds about right. … I don't feel like rushing a guy back there the absolute next day is usually the right thing to do with a muscle strain, but I think it's not going to be long for Polo."

Miguel Sano played third base Friday, when the Twins took a 2-1 lead at the top of the fifth before allowing three unanswered runs. Alex Kirilloff took up his first base spot, away from his usual outfield area.

Baldelli said while both of those players are still mainly in line for their primary positions, spring has been a chance to prepare players to be flexible should the need arise in season. That did happen last year with third baseman Josh Donaldson's injury struggles.

"We have a group that needs to be proficient and able to move around the field if we need them to," Baldelli said. "We're going to have different days where we're trying to accomplish different things when we make a lineup out."

The Twins sent pitchers Devin Smeltzer and Shaun Anderson to their alternate training site, which means they are destined for Class AAA.

The moves left them with 49 players in camp, including 24 pitchers.

Lefty Smeltzer, 25, has given up seven runs in four innings in three Grapefruit League outings. Anderson, a 26-year-old righthander, pitched the past two seasons for the Giants and came to the Twins after a Feb. 3 trade for LaMonte Wade Jr.

"The guys that have been in our bullpen, we haven't gone down the list and talked to everyone about their opening day status or anything like that," Baldelli said.

"… There are probably a number of guys that are right on that line that we're still watching and assessing and just keeping track of everything they do. And we'll see where we're at on opening day."