Miguel Sano is a big reason why the Twins are one of the feel-good stories in baseball, back in the playoff picture for the first time since 2010.

But Twins manager Paul Molitor said before Friday’s game against the Houston Astros that the team is resting its hottest power hitter because of a right hamstring strain.

Sano told Molitor on Friday that his hamstring was sore. The manager decided to rest him after talking with trainers, but Sano is expected to return Saturday in the designated hitter role.

“I just imagine trying to run him out there and him having to extend himself somehow and get shut down for a large portion, remainder of the season,” Molitor said. “I think the risk is a little too high. He’s a guy who wants to play. He thinks he can probably play through it, at least in a DH role. …The risks seems a little too high for me.”

First baseman Joe Mauer also was out of Friday’s starting lineup. So Trevor Plouffe moved from third to first and Eduardo Nunez was penciled in at the hot corner.

Sano is hitting .289 and has 12 home runs in his past 47 games. He nearly added another homer Thursday night, but his 440-foot blast hit the catwalk high inside Tropicana Field and became a double in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

It could have been a two-run homer.

“I thought the ball was gone,” Sano said Friday. “It was a big homer, but I’ll take a double. I’m trying to be more consistent, hitting line drives to the gaps and hit more doubles. Sometimes when I’m looking for doubles, I can hit the ball far and hit a home run.”

The Twins were boosted by Sano’s power hitting during their six-game winning streak, their longest since June 2011. On Thursday, they lost their hold on the second wild-card spot in the American League heading into the Houston series.

Even if he can’t help to open against Houston, Molitor is eager to get Sano back in the lineup as soon as possible.

“We all know what he’s meant to this team,” he said. “To not see his name in there it’s a different feel because that’s the kind of presence he’s brought in here. Just hopefully he responds and maybe get back in the DH role as soon as tomorrow.”

BRIEFLY

Right-hander Phil Hughes (back) is slowly improving enough to be able to play catch and get more distance on his ball from Thursday to Friday. But Molitor said Hughes is still a “long way from being able to compete in a game.” … Outfielder Aaron Hicks (hamstring) is doing well and will likely see game action starting Saturday at Triple-A Rochester. He is expected to come off the disabled list Sept. 4.

Follow Marcus R. Fuller at twitter.com/GophersNow.