MINNEAPOLIS — Technically, Carlos Correa was scratched from the Twins’ lineup for Sunday’s finale against the Giants. He was in the first lineup the team submitted, and then they submitted one without him.
But Correa and manager Rocco Baldelli both said that it wasn’t a case of something being wrong exactly. It was just time for Correa to get a day. The decision was made easier by the fact that the Twins have an off-day on Monday before starting a series Tuesday in Baltimore.
“[Getting] two days in a row, I’ve found the last six years, that it just resets my body,” Correa said. “As much as I want to play 162, I’ve also got to be smart and make sure I get to 145 before I think about 162.”
Correa has been playing well recently, with a .364/.391/.500 line over his past six games. But with a day game after a night game, and an off-day Monday, Baldelli felt it was time to give Brooks Lee a start at shortstop and rest Correa.
“We got together with Carlos, had a conversation, and decided it would be a good day to get him off his feet. Playing good, you want to keep everybody rolling, keep everybody in there, of course. But I think it was something that he needed and something that he’ll benefit from long term.”
Before the season started, Correa acknowledged that he likely benefits from the occasional day off, rather than aiming to play every single day. However, this is only the third game he hasn’t started this year.
“For some players, mentally, they couldn’t utter those words even though everyone in the room knows they’re not playing 162 games,” Baldelli said. “They just feel like they have to say it. Carlos does not look for days off ever. He prepares to play every single day. So whether he plays 150 games or whatever he ends up playing, he’s going to end up playing a lot. He’s a baseball player. He’s ready to go all the time.”
Tonkin steps back
Right-hander Michael Tonkin will pause his comeback from a right shoulder strain after experiencing renewed discomfort during his Minor League rehabilitation stint with Triple-A St. Paul. Tonkin has not pitched in a Major League game this year, and was nearing the end of the 30-day maximum for a pitcher’s rehab assignment.
“We’re definitely going to be taking a step back and kind of re-assessing,” Tonkin said. “Maybe a little bit of a new plan.”
Tonkin has been diagnosed with biceps tendinitis, according to Baldelli. He will receive an injection and will be sidelined for the time being before resuming his rehab.
“I would say I never really got where I wanted to go,” Tonkin said. “At times I was moving in the right direction, but then I’d have a good game and then I started to feel stuff more in the front side of the shoulder.”
