Every day, there seems to be new developments concerning the Twins rotation. Here's what went down Sunday:
Phil Hughes will return to the rotation Wednesday when he faces Cleveland. Tuesday, he looked rusty and his pitches lacked sharpness in his first start in five weeks following back trouble. The Twins announced after that game that their Opening Day starter would be available as a reliever over the weekend, and Hughes threw two innings in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels. Manager Paul Molitor noted some improvement, and the decision was made to give Hughes another start.
"I think he looked more comfortable on the mound in that it wasn't his first time back out after five weeks," Molitor said.
Hughes still isn't satisfied with the sharpness of his pitches, but the righthander is ready to take the ball and help with the hunt for a wild-card berth.
"I will do whatever I can do," he said. "If they need me to start, if they need relief outings. Whatever it is, I'll do it."
Hughes threw 65 pitches in his start against Detroit on Tuesday but should be able to last a little longer if he is getting hitters out.
The Twins rotation for the series against Cleveland is now set: Ervin Santana vs. Danny Salazar on Tuesday, Hughes vs. Corey Kluber on Wednesday and Kyle Gibson vs. Cody Anderson on Thursday.
Milone shoulder fatigue
One reason Hughes is needed to start again is that lefthander Tommy Milone has come down with shoulder fatigue.