Joe Mauer (back) played catch and took light swings off a tee before Wednesday's game. "He did fine. Little sore at the end of the day," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He went through a lot." Mauer hasn't played since Sunday, and is seems as though he's still got some progressing to do before getting back in the lineup. Sometime this weekend might be a best-case scenario for the first baseman's return.