Mauer Back In Lineup For Twins

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Mauer is back in the lineup for the Minnesota Twins after missing four games with a sprained right thumb.

Mauer was batting third and playing catcher for the Twins against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Mauer injured his thumb while swinging in the series finale against Cleveland last weekend.

The sprain made it hard for the left-handed hitting Mauer to follow through on his swing. He missed the entire series against the Kansas City Royals and the first game against the Cubs on Friday night. It was the first extended time he missed because of injury this season, an encouraging stretch of durability for the former AL MVP who has struggled to stay on the field the last two years.

Mauer is hitting .298 with three homers this season.

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