FORT MYERS, Fla. -- First baseman Joe Mauer and second baseman Brian Dozier were both held out of the starting lineup for the Twins' Grapefruit League opener against the Rays on Friday. Mauer isn't expected to play until Wednesday against the Pirates, while Dozier is slated to make his debut on Sunday against the Nationals.
Neither is injured, but Twins manager Paul Molitor said he's easing them into games early this spring because Spring Training is longer this year with the World Baseball Classic.
"Trying to do the right thing," Molitor said. "Starting early, that was part of my approach to Joe, in that I'm not in a hurry to get him out there given the fact April 1 will be [36] days from now or whatever it is.