HOUSTON -- After the Twins used the All-Star break as a vehicle to give first baseman Joe Mauer extra rest and have him miss minimal games, their plan to activate him from the disabled list on Saturday hasn't deviated course.
Mauer fielded ground balls and went through an assortment of drills prior to taking batting practice shortly before Friday's series opener vs. Houston. If he responds well after swinging a bat for the first time since hitting the DL, he's expected to return on Saturday.
"That's the hope," Mauer said. "I've got to go through today and see how that goes.