(My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Twins are expected to have Joe Mauer back in the lineup tonight, when they begin a three-game series versus the Kansas City Royals at the Metrodome.

Mauer is slated to return this evening after missing the Twins' first 22 games due to lower back inflammation, with Minnesota splitting those games without Mauer while batting .262 as a team.

The catcher hit .328 last year to win his second American League batting title and also won his first Gold Glove. Mauer batted .400 (6-for-15) in five rehab games and is a career .289 hitter versus the Royals. He is also 5-for-15 in his career versus Sidney Ponson, tonight's slated starter for Kansas City.

Mauer's return is good news for Twins starter Kevin Slowey, who will aim to improve to 4-0 on the season tonight. Slowey has won his last two starts and has a 4.44 earned run average on the season. He held the Angels to just a pair of runs in seven innings on April 18, then bested Cleveland on Saturday with eight innings of one-run ball. The righty allowed eight hits and didn't walk a batter while striking out seven.

Slowey, who turns 25 on Monday, is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in four games (3 starts) lifetime versus the Royals.

Minnesota improved to 11-11 on the season and won for the fourth time in six games on Wednesday with an 8-3 victory over Tampa Bay. Justin Morneau and Brendan Harris both finished with three hits, two runs scored and a run batted in for the Twins.

Jason Kubel, Delmon Young and Michael Cuddyer knocked in a run each in the win. Nick Blackburn (2-1) earned the victory after throwing seven innings and giving up two runs on eight hits.

For the Royals, Ponson takes this hill after going a season-high eight innings versus Detroit on Saturday. The right-hander allowed just three runs on six hits with a season-best seven strikeouts, but still got the loss in a 3-2 decision. That dropped Ponson to 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA on the season.

The 32-year-old has had great success in his career versus the Twins, going 11-3 with a 2.69 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) against the club he pitched for in 2007. Ponson is just 5-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 12 starts at the Metrodome, though.

The Royals wrapped a four-game set with Toronto on Thursday and took three contests in the series thanks to Thursday's 8-6 win. John Buck finished 3- for-3 with two triples and five RBI for Kansas City. Billy Butler added two hits, a run driven in and two scored for the Royals, who scored 27 total runs in the series.

Kyle Davies (2-1) yielded seven hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings, walking three without a strikeout for the win. Davies was backed by his infielders, who tied a team record by turning six double plays.

Juan Cruz picked up the save with closer Joakim Soria still sidelined due to stiffness in his right shoulder. Soria hasn't pitched since April 22, but could make his return tonight if needed.

At 12-10, the Royals lead the AL Central by a half-game over the White Sox and Detroit Tigers.

The Royals have won three of their last four versus the Twins, but Minnesota won 12 of the 18 meetings a season ago.