--RHP R.A. Dickey makes his first start as a Twin on Friday, and he will be the first knuckleballer to start a game for Minnesota since Joe Niekro in 1988. Dickey, who made the Twins as a long reliever, is filling in for RHP Scott Baker, who will pitch for Class A Fort Myers on Friday as a step toward returning from a stiff shoulder.

--3B Joe Crede played his fourth consecutive game on the Metrodome turf Thursday and reported no ill effects on his surgically repaired back. Still, manager Ron Gardenhire plans to give Crede a day off, perhaps two, this weekend when he returns to Chicago, where he played for seven seasons.

--C Joe Mauer's running program has been spelled out for him day to day, manager Ron Gardenhire said, with a specific target date in mind for his return to the lineup. "We're not going to announce it," Gardenhire said, "because things change." Still, Gardenhire said the All-Star catcher is making significant progress toward being able to run without pain in his sacroiliac joint at the base of his spine.

--LF Delmon Young served as the Twins' designated hitter, but it didn't change his luck at the plate. Young, who has twice been left out of manager Ron Gardenhire's lineup in the first four games, swung at the first pitch in his first two at-bats, grounding out each time. He finished 0-for-3, was lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and is now 0-for-7 on the season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

C Mike Redmond (strained right groin) was injured April 6 and didn't play April 7-8. He returned to action April 9.

RHP Scott Baker (stiff right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 28. He will make a rehab appearance for Class A Fort Myers on April 10.

C Joe Mauer (inflamed sacroiliac joint in his lower back) went on the 15-day disabled list April 2. He reported improvement after being put on a new regimen of medication, but he hadn't begun spring workouts as of April 3. The Twins hope he can return in April.

RHP Boof Bonser (torn right labrum and rotator cuff surgery in February 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list on April 2. He is out for the season.

RHP Pat Neshek (right elbow surgery) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 21. He will remain in Florida all summer and targets a return by next spring.

ROTATION:

1. LHP Francisco Liriano

2. RHP Nick Blackburn

3. RHP Kevin Slowey

4. LHP Glen Perkins

5. RHP R.A. Dickey

BULLPEN:

RHP Joe Nathan (closer)

RHP Jesse Crain

RHP Matt Guerrier

LHP Craig Breslow

RHP Luis Ayala

RHP Philip Humber

LHP Brian Duensing

LINEUP:

1. CF Denard Span

2. 2B Alexi Casilla

3. RF Michael Cuddyer

4. 1B Justin Morneau

5. DH Jason Kubel

6. 3B Joe Crede

7. LF Delmon Young

8. C Mike Redmond

9. SS Nick Punto

RESERVES:

CF Carlos Gomez

3B Brian Buscher

INF Brendan Harris

C Jose Morales