MINNEAPOLIS -- Left fielder Eddie Rosario was scratched from the starting lineup prior to the Twins' 9-2 loss to the Red Sox due to shoulder soreness. After the game, he said he expects to play on Friday.
"I'll play tomorrow -- 100 percent," Rosario said.
After initially being penciled in at the No. 2 spot on Thursday, Rosario met with team trainers and Minnesota ultimately made the decision that a day off could be beneficial.
"Rosie's got a little bit of shoulder discomfort," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "After taking a look at him this morning, I think he really wants to play. I just think we're trying to keep the big picture in mind. So we're gonna back him off. It's just one of those things where you think what you're doing is best for the player for the long term."
Rosario has carried the Twins' lineup for much of the season and has been especially crucial of late with a number of injuries hampering Minnesota's offense. Entering Thursday, the 26-year-old outfielder was ninth in the Majors in bWAR among position players at 3.7.
Rosario leads the Twins in hits (89), home runs (16) and stolen bases (6), and his team-best .320 batting average ranks 10th in the Majors. Rosario is 12th among outfielders in American League All-Star voting and is Minnesota's leading vote-getter.
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"I think it's just been accumulating little by little," Molitor said. "Going back to the spring, he had a little bit of shoulder issues and some things. But I know that he's been in there trying to keep it as game-ready as possible. Today was maybe just a little bit -- I wouldn't say worse -- just at a point where, we talked to our trainers and we thought this was best."
Ryan LaMarre replaced Rosario in Thursday's lineup and slotted in at center field. Robbie Grossman shifted from right field to left, and Max Kepler moved from center to right. Molitor said Rosario was available as a pinch-hitter if a late-game opportunity presented itself.
"I'm sure he'd like to be a part of today's game, and I think he's gonna be available in the game," Molitor said. "We wanna back him off of throwing possibilities that might come up. Hopefully the little break will help him going into tomorrow."