Pinto gets breather after bruising hand on hit-by-pitch

MINNEAPOLIS -- Catcher Josmil Pinto, who was hit on his right hand by a pitch on Friday night, was held out of the lineup on Saturday against the Indians.

Pinto was hit on his hand by a 94-mph fastball from right-hander Corey Kluber in the fourth inning, and he came out of the game after the inning. But X-rays came back negative and he was diagnosed with a bruised hand.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Pinto is available to pinch-hit and wasn't going to start at catcher on Saturday anyways, as it was a day game after a night game. Eric Fryer made his third start of the season behind the plate in Pinto's absence.

"He's OK," Gardenhire said. "I think he could probably play if you really forced the issue. We didn't plan on playing him today after catching last night. This gives us a good chance to put in Fryer, who has worked his butt off."

The Twins are hopeful Pinto will be able to play in Sunday's season finale. The 24-year-old is hitting .342 with four homers, five doubles and 12 RBIs in 21 games this year since being called up from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 31.

"[Pinto] might be able to go tomorrow," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "He's day to day. He took a pretty good shot to the hand. We'll play him if he's healthy."