Joe Mauer will play first base Tuesday night against the Red Sox. This will be his 12th appearance and 11th start at first base this season. We'll likely see less of him there once Justin Morneau returns from the disabled list. Drew Butera will make the start behind the plate Tuesday night and bat ninth against left-hander Erik Bedard.

Joe Mauer hit his first home run of the season in Wednesday's 7-2 win against the Rangers. He took Texas starter Colby Lewis deep in the first inning to end his prolonged power drought. It was his first long ball in a regular season game since September 15 of last year. Overall, Mauer went 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored and two RBI. He's hitting .345 with an .808 OPS in July and it's clear he's finally rounding into form offensively.

Joe Mauer is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers. Mauer is 1-for-19 against Tuesday's starter C.J. Wilson during his career, so Twins manager Ron Gardenhire will use Tuesday as an opportunity to give him the night off. Drew Butera, who usually catches Carl Pavano, will make the start behind the dish while Michael Cuddyer plays first base.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Joe Christensen believes Joe Mauer is most likely to start at first base on days Carl Pavano is pitching or when the Twins are playing in a day game after a night game. On days when Pavano is starting because Drew Butera has emerged as his personal catcher. Mauer has looked like a natural defensively during his first five games at first, and is 11-for-20 on days he's donned a first baseman's glove. The lion's share of his playing time should remain behind the plate, however.

Joe Mauer will play first base in Game One of Monday's doubleheader against the Indians and catch Game Two. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is looking for creative ways to keep Mauer in the lineup and this certainly qualifies. Mauer has appeared skilled around the bag during previous trips to first base and he could certainly use days off from behind the plate every now and again.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is hoping Joe Mauer will be amenable to playing more first base going forward. "I'm hoping he'll really like it," he said. "Because we could really use him over there and get a lot more out of him as we go along. He's still a catcher. I think he enjoyed it. It may not always be peachy and perfect over there, but I think you saw a little bit about what he is all about, how gifted he is." Mauer did indeed appear skilled around the bag yesterday, and it would do him a world of good to get out from behind the plate much more often.

Joe Mauer returned to action on Thursday July 7.

Joe Mauer is making his major league debut at first base on Thursday night against the White Sox. As expected. The Twins are hoping that taking random starts at first base will help Mauer's knees and legs stay fresh. He's batting just .223/.282/.266 this season with zero home runs and has played in only 27 games.

Joe Mauer is not in the Twins' lineup Wednesday afternoon against the Rays due to "general soreness." Mauer won't play Wednesday, but is highly likely to make his first major league start at first base on Thursday. Rene Rivera will make the start behind the plate Wednesday and bat eighth against right-hander Wade Davis while Jim Thome serves as designated hitter.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire plans to give Joe Mauer a start at first base soon. With Justin Morneau on the shelf, Mauer has been fielding grounders during batting practice and working on throws to second base, but he's yet to appear in a game. Gardy considered starting him at first Saturday. "He's going to get out there [at first base] pretty soon," Gardenhire said. "I think he's pretty much ready to go out there, any time we say let's go do it."