Mauer MRI shows no serious damage

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MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- An MRI exam of Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer's left knee turned up nothing more serious than tissue inflammation, the team said Tuesday.

Mauer, who is key to the Twins' playoff hopes, has been out of the lineup since Sunday when he experienced pain in the knee during Minnesota's 6-2 loss to Oakland.

The MRI, however, revealed no serious problems, and Mauer is likely to receive a cortisone shot to help with the inflammation, Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire told MLB.com.

Minnesota was on the verge of clinching their second straight American League Central crown Tuesday. The Twins' magic number for clinching was down to two with 12 games to play, and Gardenhire said a rest for Mauer would probably be beneficial heading into the post-season.

"If they decide to do (the cortisone shot), then it's probably four or five days (off), which he could use," the Twins skipper told the Web site. "That would be good" for him.