Dozier back in Twins’ lineup for Orioles opener

MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins received positive injury news on Monday, as second baseman Brian Dozier was cleared to return to the lineup after being held out for the previous three games with a sore right hamstring, while third baseman Trevor Plouffe is still dealing with pain in his right intercostal muscle but will be able to play through it.

Dozier, who suffered the injury in Houston on Wednesday, wasn’t in the starting lineup over the weekend against the White Sox, but did walk in a pinch-hit appearance on Sunday. After talking with manager Paul Molitor and getting cleared by trainers, Dozier said he thought the injury was behind him.

“It’s gotten better every day,” Dozier said. “I’m pretty much all the way there. I kind of know my limitations on what I can and can’t do. So you have to be smart, but I told Mollie I wasn’t going to lie to him and was going to tell him when I was ready, and I am now.”

Dozier had been swinging a hot bat before the injury, hitting .286/.362/.500 with two homers and 10 RBIs over his last 11 games entering Monday.

“It was …

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