Nolasco allowed one run on three hits while striking out five over seven innings, but received no decision Sunday against the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

The only damage Nolasco allowed was a solo homer to Mike Moustakas, but the bullpen fell apart in the ninth inning and blew a two-run lead to leave him without the well-earned victory. Although he had to earn the fifth starter spot late in spring training, he certainly pitched a gem in his first outing of the season, and he'll look to continue the momentum in his next start Friday against the Angels.

Nolasco will have his start pushed back to Sunday for this weekend's series against the Royals, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Twins will shuffle their weekend rotation a bit, starting Ervin Santana on Friday, Tommy Milone on Saturday, and pushing Nolasco back to Sunday. Nolasco will have the unenviable task of facing a Royals lineup that knocked him out of his start after just 2.2 innings last season.

Nolasco will begin the season as Minnesota's No. 5 starer with Tyler Duffey optioned to Triple-A Rochester, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nolasco has a 4.05 ERA this spring with an impressive 14:5 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings. Nolasco has struggled to stay healthy the past two years and performed terribly when on the mound, producing a 5.40 ERA and 6.7 K/9 rate over 191.2 innings. However, he could offer upside for his strikeouts (career 7.3 K/9) if he can stay healthy.

Nolasco could win a spot in the rotation along with Tommy Milone as Tyler Duffey continues to struggle this spring, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Nolasco threw six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts in Wednesday's spring training win over Tampa Bay.

EDGE Analysis

Nolasco faced a lineup of mostly players set to be in the minor leagues, but was still impressive and lowered his spring ERA to 4.05 with a strong 14:5 K:BB ratio in 13.1 innings. Duffey has a 6.48 ERA in the spring and Paul Molitor indicated he may not be set for the rotation. Nolasco is likely behind Milone for the fifth starter battle, but both could make the rotation if Duffey begins the season at Triple-A.

Nolasco gave up two runs (one earned) in five innings with six strikeouts Friday against Triple-A Pawtucket, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He had given up six runs in 7.1 innings in major league spring games.

EDGE Analysis

Nolasco remains in competition with Tommy Milone for the final spot in the rotation. Milone has pitched better this spring (2.00 ERA and eight strikeouts in nine innings), but Nolasco could get the nod thanks to the $25 million left on his contract.

Nolasco gave up three runs and four hits in with a strikeout and a walk in 1.1 innings in his spring debut Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Nolasco is competing with Tommy Milone and Trevor May for the final spot in the rotation. While it's just one outing, Nolasco likely needs to make a statement early in spring training to win the job, so any bad outing won't help. At least he's healthy after missing four months due to an ankle injury at the end of last season.

Nolasco will start Sunday's game, WCCO's Dan Cook reports.

EDGE Analysis

He will face the Royals in the Twins' final game of 2015 after they were eliminated from the playoff picture Saturday. To say Nolasco has been a disappointment since signing with the Twins would be putting it lightly. He posted a 5.38 ERA in 159 innings in 2014 and has posted a 5.97 ERA in 34.2 innings in an injury-plagued 2015 campaign.

Nolasco (ankle) was reinstated from the 60-day DL on Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

There had been skepticism that Nolasco would return to the mound in 2015, but he'll make his comeback with 10 games left in the season. Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reports that Twins manager Paul Molitor doesn't see a start for the veteran happening, so it will likely be a long relief and emergency starter role for him.

Nolasco (ankle) will need to throw one more side session before possibly being activated, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

He threw 49 pitches in an intrasquad game Monday, but it remains to be seen if Nolasco will have enough time to be cleared to pitch again in 2015.

Nolasco (ankle) will throw 45 pitches in an intrasquad game Monday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

General manager Terry Ryan has repeatedly expressed his doubt that Nolasco would be able to pitch again with the major league team this season, but he's scheduled to return to Minnesota Tuesday. At this point it's unclear what his timetable is, but the club should have a clearer picture after Monday's outing.