Boof

Bonser

Bonser and Linden are two of the team’s top prospects, but they’re still at least a year away. None of these players should have any impact this season.

One and done for Boof. Because of his mediocre fastball, he’d have a better chance of surviving as a starting pitcher in the National League. The Twins could try him in middle relief someday, but they usually have no shortage of possibilities there.

Liriano will officially go on the DL tomorrow. Bonser, who was picked over Scott Baker, has a 5.67 ERA in eight starts for the Twins this season and that’s with a remarkably easy schedule. He’ll get the Blue Jays and White Sox in his first two starts this time, so he isn’t an option in AL-only leagues.

It was like a replay of Scott Baker’s outing last night. Baker pitched three scoreless innings and then allowed eight runs -- seven earned -- in the fourth in his loss. Bonser did give up two runs in the first three innings today, but he was still pitching fairly well until a fourth inning in which he was let down by his defense, specifically first baseman Justin Morneau. Bonser ended up allowing six hits, walking two and striking out five. The poor outing could increase the chances that Matt Garza will be called up.

Bonser is getting the start today in place of an injured Francisco Liriano. It’s possible that he’ll stay in the rotation, replacing Scott Baker, if he performs well.

Bonser gave up seven hits, including a two-run homer to Reed Johnson and two doubles to Lyle Overbay, but he walked none and struck out five. The Twins couldn’t have asked for much more.

Bonser, who has a 5.67 ERA in eight starts this season, will face the Blue Jays on Saturday. He’s not going to be worth using in AL-only leagues initially.

Better than the nine days’ rest he pitched on yesterday. Johan Santana will be kept on four days’ rest and pitch Friday.

Bonser had his last start skipped, and that he struggled tonight can’t be too surprising. The team showed a quick hook with the right-hander by pulling him after just 53 pitches and with just one runner on base in the fourth. Bonser has given up 16 runs in 20 1/3 innings this month, so he’s not a very good option in AL-only formats right now. If the Twins refuse to give him regular work it’s unlikely he’ll regain fantasy relevance this season.

It’d make more sense for Ron Gardenhire to keep using this tactic if he had more than two effective starters. That Bonser now seems set to get the Scott Baker treatment only makes it less likely that he’ll be an effective member of the rotation.