Minnesota Twins: Eddie Rosario (hamstring) not in lineup on Friday night

The Minnesota Twins left fielder is not in the lineup for Friday’s opener against the Detroit Tigers, leaving the Twins outfield even more depleted.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Minnesota Twins decided to play it safe when outfielder Eddie Rosario felt tightness in his right hamstring. By pulling him in the fifth inning of their loss to the Chicago White Sox, the thought was that Rosario would be ready to go with over a full day of recovery for Friday night’s opener with the Detroit Tigers.

But as the Twins released their lineup on Friday afternoon, Rosario was not in it. Instead, the 27-year old will sit for at least a game as the Twins look to get a head start on the last-place team in the American League Central.

Rosario has enjoyed a tremendous season in the middle of the Twins lineup hitting .282, tying a career-high with 27 home runs and setting a career-high with 85 RBI. Even though Rosario has begun to chase a little more after a hot start to the season, he still remains an important key to the Twins’ outfield in its current state.

With Byron Buxton not expected back until September, the Twins will really have to get creative with their outfield situation until Rosario’s hamstring is 100 percent.

For Friday, the Twins opted to go with Jake Cave in left field, Max Kepler in center and Marwin Gonzalez in right, but there’s still a possibility he could make a pinch-hit appearance as MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park noted he is still active as a bench player.

Even though the Twins are playing the Tigers, who own baseball’s worst record at 38-87 entering this weekend’s three-game series at Target Field, Minnesota would love to have the services of their left fielder back as soon as possible to hold off the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central race.