The Twins will have All-Star catcher Joe Mauer back in the lineup on Friday against the Padres. Mauer is expected to start at catcher in the game. He hasn't played for the Twins since April 12, plagued by weakness and soreness in his legs and throwing shoulder. "It was a lot longer than I had hoped," Mauer said. "But I got my work in, and I worked with a lot of great people down here. It was nice, but obviously I want to be up there in Minnesota and be up there playing. I feel like I'm ready to get out of here." Mauer has played in only nine games this year because of his injuries, hitting just .235 with four RBIs in the first season of an eight-year, $184 million contract extension.