Making his first start since April 12 on Friday, Joe Mauer went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Minnesota's 6-5 win over the Padres at home. He roped an RBI single to shallow center in the first inning before going hitless the rest of the night. A steady, if not electrifying, return to the lineup. The Twins will be taking on Padres righty Tim Stauffer on Saturday, someone Mauer has zero career at-bats against.

Joe Mauer will catch and bat third in his return from the disabled list Friday night against the Padres. It's been a long strange ride for Twins' fans and fantasy owners alike over the past two months or so, but Mauer is finally back in the lineup. He's returning at precisely the right time for the Twins, as they have won 11 out of their last 13 games.