Adam Dunn felt well swinging in batting practice Monday, but he already was in the lineup for the first game of a three-game series against Minnesota starting the home stand at U.S. Cellular Field.
“I’d rather be in the lineup as opposed to not be in and then try to go in,” he said before testing the sore right oblique that had kept him from playing the last two games of the weekend series in Detroit.
Dunn, who leads the majors in home runs with 38, has been struggling of late, hitting only .167 (4-24) with one RBI in his last seven games.
But he would have played against the Tigers had he been healthy.
“That’s the tough part about it,” he said of not being able to even pinch hit. “No one will look at you. It’s the worst it can be. All you an be is a cheerleader.”