ATLANTA - The Twins are cautious about allowing their pitchers to face hitters three times in a game, especially the top of the order. So with former All-Stars occupying five of the top six spots in the Braves’ lineup, manager Rocco Baldelli decided to resurrect a tactic he’s used a few times every season: the opener.
Justin Topa was assigned Saturday to make his first major league start, and first as a professional at any level since 2018. Simeon Woods Richardson, originally scheduled to start, was told he would enter the game after Topa was removed.