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(Sports Network) - It took a while, but Joe Mauer is finding his power stroke. The Minnesota catcher hopes he gets a chance to lead his team to a victory tonight, when the Twins play the rubber match of a three-game set with the Baltimore Orioles at the Metrodome.

Mauer owned just 35 career homers heading into the 2008 campaign, but it was still somewhat surprising that he failed to go deep in any of his first 50 games this season. The top overall pick of the 2001 draft finally hit his first homer on Monday and went yard again in yesterday's 7-5 victory over the Orioles, hitting a solo blast in the seventh inning.

Mauer, who leads Minnesota and is second in the American League with a .330 batting average this year, finished with three runs batted in and has two hits in each of his last three games. He is hitting .384 in 22 career tests versus Baltimore with 16 RBI.

However, it is possible Mauer will be on the bench for this day game after catching last night's test.

Jason Kubel had two RBI on Wednesday and Michael Cuddyer scored twice, as the Twins won for the third time in four games to remain 1 1/2 games back of Chicago for first place in the AL Central. Minnesota begins a 10-game road trip on Friday with a four-game set versus the White Sox.

Scott Baker returns from the disabled list today to make the start for the Twins. Baker has been sidelined since aggravating a strained right groin in his last start on May 3. He lasted just three innings on that day versus Detroit, allowing a hit with two strikeouts.

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 4.09 earned run average this year and 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA in two career starts versus Baltimore. He last faced the Orioles on August 26 of last year, allowing three runs (2 earned) on seven hits.

Baker, 26, will be taking the place of Boof Bonser in the rotation. Bonser shifted to the bullpen and actually got the win in last night's game after tossing 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Kevin Millar and Melvin Mora staked the O's to an early lead yesterday when each slugger smacked a two-out first-inning solo homer, but the club couldn't hold on while dropping its fifth game in seven contests. Brian Roberts went 2- for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Nick Markakis had two hits and one RBI.

Baltimore has now split the first two tests of its current nine-game road trip that next heads to Toronto. The Orioles have lost six of their last seven as the visiting club.

Left-hander Garrett Olson makes his first career start versus the Twins today and was hurt by the long ball last time out. He had allowed just one homer through his first six starts, but gave up a pair of home runs in a no-decision against Boston on Saturday. Olson only allowed three hits in start, striking out five.

Still the 24-year-old remains a pleasant surprise, as he is 4-1 with a 4.03 ERA this year after going 1-3 with a 7.79 ERA in seven starts last year.

Minnesota, which swept its seven-game season series with Baltimore last year, has won 12 of its last 14 versus the Orioles, winning four of five at home in that span.