KANSAS CITY -- Byron Buxton, who started the first 11 games of the season in center field for the Twins, was not with the team for Thursday¡¯s series finale against the Royals. According to the club, Buxton has ¡°returned home to deal with a personal matter.¡±
The absence is not related to Buxton¡¯s health.
Buxton, 31, has a .171/.209/.293 line at the plate on the young season. He has been healthy, however, and has stolen two bases and seven runs scored.
Pitching plans
The Twins have announced the first adjustment to their rotation in Pablo L¨®pez¡¯s absence, but probably not the last.
Right-hander David Festa will start Friday¡¯s homestand opener against the Tigers, most likely taking the roster spot of L¨®pez, who is expected to be placed on the injured list due to a right hamstring strain. Festa would be on turn to start Friday for Triple-A St. Paul, but instead will pitch in Minneapolis instead. That will allow the Twins to push back their other starters in the midst of a 12-day stretch without an off-day.
After Festa, Chris Paddack is slated to start Saturday against the Tigers, with Simeon Woods Richardson on Sunday. Both righties would be pitching on an extra day of rest. That would bump L¨®pez¡¯s rotation spot back to Monday.
As a result, Zebby Matthews is not out of the rotation picture. Matthews pitched on Tuesday for St. Paul, and he could be in line to start six days later, on Monday against the Mets, when L¨®pez¡¯s turn comes back up.
Lee¡¯s status
Infielder Brooks Lee has made three starts on a Minor League rehab assignment as he attempts to come back from low back tightness, and each has been at a different position. Lee played one game for Single-A Fort Myers, starting at shortstop, then started at second and third for St. Paul the past two days. He has played seven innings each game.
Manager Rocco Baldelli said that the plan is for Lee to continue playing multiple positions while he is on his rehab assignment. He also indicated that while Lee is progressing, his status at this point remains more a medical decision than a baseball decision.
A Minor League rehab assignment for a position player can last 20 days. However, Lee has Minor League options remaining, so the club could elect to option him at the end of his stint, if so desired.
Lovelady signs
Veteran left-hander Richard Lovelady -- who has pitched parts of six Major League seasons with the Royals, Athletics, Cubs, Rays and Blue Jays -- has joined St. Paul after signing a Minor League contract with the Twins. He was effective for Tampa Bay last season, but was granted his release after getting off to a rough start with the Blue Jays this year.