Joe Mauer (quad) returned to the Twins' lineup Saturday against the Reds. Mauer was available to pinch-hit Friday and will start at first base for the first time since June 17. Justin Morneau will get a "mental day off" and is hitting just .214 on the Twins' current road trip

Joe Mauer (quad) was available to pinch-hit Friday against the Reds. Mauer may be available to start Saturday, but an earlier report said it's also possible he misses the entire weekend. He hasn't played since Sunday with a bruised right quad.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Joe Mauer (quad) is still unable to get in a crouching position and isn't guaranteed to play this weekend against the Reds. Mauer essentially said as much Thursday, and it's been confirmed by his manager. A trip to the disabled list doesn't seem likely at this point, but he's been out since Sunday, so it will have to be considered if progress isn't made soon. Ryan Doumit and Drew Butera will handle the catching duties until Mauer is ready.

Joe Mauer (quad) isn't sure when he'll be able to return to the lineup. Mauer was making solid progress earlier this week in his recovery from a right quad injury, but he's stalled lately. The Twins were hoping he'd be able to catch in the bullpen Thursday, but he wasn't feeling up for it. "It's not much better than yesterday," Mauer said Thursday. "I thought I'd be able to do a little bit more. It's real frustrating." Mauer seems unlikely to be ready to play Friday, with his status for the entire weekend series in Cincinnati up in the air.

Joe Mauer (quad) is not in Thursday's lineup. Mauer hasn't appeared in a game since suffering a bruised right quad Sunday on a collision at home plate with Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks. The 29-year-old backstop will try again Friday night.

Joe Mauer (quad) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Pirates. Mauer hasn't played since suffering a bruised right quad in a collision at home plate with Brewers' second baseman Rickie Weeks. He is currently considered day-to-day. Drew Butera will make the start behind the plate Wednesday.

Joe Mauer (quad) is available to pinch-hit Tuesday. Mauer left Sunday's game against the Brewers after suffering a bruised right quad on a home-plate collision with Rickie Weeks. He was still feeling pretty sore when Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire made out the lineup for Tuesday night's series-opener vs. the Pirates. The hope is Mauer will be a full participant Wednesday.

Joe Mauer left Sunday's game after the seventh inning with a bruised right quad muscle. He was injured earlier in the game during a home-plate collision with Rickie Weeks. Mauer toughed it out through seven innings. He singled in that frame and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire sent in a pinch-runner to end his day. Drew Butera took over behind the dish in the eighth. The Twins announced that Mauer is day-to-day.

Joe Mauer (thumb) went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored Saturday in his return to action. Mauer had an RBI double to cap off a six-run fourth and an RBI single in the sixth. He missed the previous four games due to a strained right thumb, but it shouldn't be an issue moving forward.

Joe Mauer (thumb) returned to the Twins' lineup Saturday. Mauer had missed the previous four games, but the injury was never a major concern. Denard Span is also in the starting lineup Saturday after missing time with flu-like symptons. Ryan Doumit returns as the designated hitter.