Ron Gardenhire

The Twins prepared for a 50th anniversary celebration series against the Rangers at Target Field without a series opener pitcher.

Nick Blackburn, who had been scheduled to pitch, was used in relief Thursday night and gave up the game-losing homer to the Tigers. It's likely a pitcher will be called up from the minors to face Texas' Derek Holland on Friday.

You can read about who the Twins choose to pitch and more about the 50th anniversary celebration in A Look Back on this site and by going to the Twins' site via MDR links.

The White Sox send John Danks against the Red Sox's Clay Buchholz in a series opener Friday at Fenway Park.

In the NL, Chris Capuano will start for the Brewers Friday in a series in Philadelphia. Cole Hamels will start for the Phillies.

The Cubs will send Randy Wells against the Mets' R.A. Dickey in the Friday opener of a series at Wrigley Field.

You can read about all the weekend games by going to the team web sites vis MDR links. Come back here Sunday night for the Weekend Wrap.

Midweek Notebook

Brewers

** Third baseman Mat Gamel, RHP Carlos Villanueva and pitching prospect Jeremy Jeffress are expected to be called up from their respective teams on Wednesday.

** CF Lorenzo Cain had some residual neck stiffness after making a catch Monday night while crashing into the wall in left-center at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Cain said he could have played Tuesday night against the Reds, but manager Ken Macha started CF Chris Dickerson, who went 1-for-4.

** LF Ryan Braun had a torrid month of August at the plate, batting .422 (43-for-102) over 27 games. He has a current five-game hitting streak in which he is batting .524 (11-for-21) with a home run and five RBI.

Cubs

** The first call-up will be a third catcher, Welington Castillo, who has seen time with the big club this year. Castillo was called in Tuesday, but not activated, as he was an insurance policy for Geovany Soto, who has been out with a swollen right knee.

** The Cubs likely will call up pitcher RHP Jeff Samardzija and OF Sam Fuld.

** SS Starlin Castro’s .315 batting average ranks fifth in the NL. He finally has enough plate appearances to qualify for the leader board even though he did not come up from the minor leagues until May 7.

Twins

** LHP Brian Fuentes, acquired Friday in a waiver-wire trade, will miss at least a couple of games after his back locked up on him in the bullpen Tuesday.

** DH Jim Thome missed his second consecutive game Tuesday because of back stiffness. Manager Ron Gardenhire hoped he would be available Wednesday but didn’t sound optimistic.

** C Jose Morales and SS Trevor Plouffe were recalled from Class AAA Rochester (N.Y.) after Tuesday’s game, joining the team as active rosters expanded from 25 to 40.

White Sox

** DH Manny Ramirez was not in the starting lineup Tuesday, but will see action soon.

** RHP Carlos Torres was sent down to Class AAA Charlotte (Fort Mill, S.C.) to make for Ramirez on the roster, but the Sox will soon call up some players because of the roster expansion to 40.

** 2B Gordon Beckham was out of the starting lineup Tuesday, after he was plunked on the hand in the seventh inning of Monday’s game.

A Look Back

Greg Gagne

The Twins will celebrate their 50th anniversary this weekend during a series with the Texas Rangers.

On Friday, the Twins will host pre-game alumni photos on Target Field Promenade. Many of the 50 Greatest Twins Players will be honored on the field as well as many other pre-game and in-game elements that celebrate 50 seasons of Twins baseball.

Former shortstop Greg Gagne will be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame before the game on Saturday. 

On Sunday, the Twins will host a Legends Game featuring members of the 50 Greatest Twins and local Twins alumni.

For more information on the celebration, go to the Twins web site via MDR links.