ARLINGTON -- Twins manager Paul Molitor set his rotation coming out of the All-Star break, as he decided not to change the order of his five starters after talking it over with pitching coach Neil Allen.
Ervin Santana will start the first game of the second half against the Indians on Friday, and will be followed by fellow right-handers Tyler Duffey and Kyle Gibson. Right-hander Ricky Nolasco will take the mound in Detroit for the series opener against the Tigers on July 18, and lefty Tommy Milone will start the second game.
"I tried to imagine different scenarios coming out of the break, but in the end, there was no real sense to push anybody back or move the rotation around," Molitor said. "Everybody is getting almost the same amount of rest, which is a good thing."
Molitor thought about moving up Gibson because he's made only 10 starts this year after missing 42 games with a right shoulder strain, but decided against it. He also wanted to give as much rest as possible to Nolasco, who leads the team with 18 starts and 108 2/3 innings.
"Ricky has the most starts and the most innings, so having him as the fourth starter out of the break, it gives him an eight- or nine-day window," Molitor said. "So we'll just keep it in that same order."
Worth noting
• Center fielder Byron Buxton, who bruised a bone in his right knee after colliding with the wall in Friday's game, remains available off the bench, but Molitor decided to give him another day off leading into the break.
"I didn't feel like putting him back in for a one-day stint here when I can make it a six-day stint," Molitor said. "I'm sure he wanted to play. But I'd rather have him come back feeling good."
• Shortstop Eduardo Nunez was given a rare day off, as he was held out of the starting lineup for the first time since May 17. Molitor wanted to get Eduardo Escobar playing time, as he hadn't started since sustaining a minor hamstring strain on July 2. Nunez is flying to San Diego after the game, as he's an All-Star for the first time in his career.
• Double-A Chattanooga catcher Mitch Garver was named the Twins' Minor League Player of the Week after hitting .455 with four doubles, a homer and five RBIs in six games.