Continued: Mauer's August hot streak looks like his sizzling May

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Joe Mauer made his season debut on May 1, which started a month to remember, batting .414 with 11 homers, 32 RBI, a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.338 on-base plus slugging percentage.

A one-of-a-kind month? Maybe not.

Mauer is sizzling in August, batting a major league-best .465 (despite going (0-for-3 on Wednesday to end a 15-game hitting streak) with six homers, 20 RBI, a .527 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.409.

"It's fascinating to watch," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said, "but it's not -- I don't know how you want to put it -- it's almost becoming normal. And that's scary because he does it every day."

Twins hitting coach Joe Vavra said even Mauer has periods when his swing has glitches but, "right now, everything is coming together."

Mauer has put 30 points on his batting average in the past 16 games, raising his batting average to a major league-high .383. He trailsonly St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols in OPS, at 1.101.

How does he explain another big month? His six homers are the most in any month since May.

"Sometimes when you're tired and sore you don't try to do too much," he said. "I guess that's kind of where I'm at. Not trying to do too much but feeling good, if that makes any sense."

Mauer, in fact, doesn't want to come out of the lineup. When Gardenhire approached him about either being a designated hitter one day or taking a day off, Mauer told him not to bother.

"Gardy protects his players," Mauer said. "He does a great job of that, but sometimes you have to let him know that you're good to go."

Gardenhire suspects Mauer has other reasons to stay in the lineup than his 15-game hitting streak.

"I think that's the leadership coming out of him," Gardenhire said. "Knowing that this baseball team is fighting to survive, I believe that's his leadership coming out -- his way of saying. 'I'm in there.'"

What about Morneau?

When will Justin Morneau return to the lineup? He's fighting a right inner ear infection that might force the Twins to send him to the same specialist who treated Denard Span for a similar problem in June.

Morneau on Wednesday missed his second consecutive game. Gardenhire said Morneau is day-to-day and is trying to avoid placing him on the disabled list.

"I don't want him to go on the DL, either," he said, "but if it has to go that way, it has to go that way. Give him a few days."

Span has been talking with Morneau and understands everything he's going through.

"Your reflexes and your timing are just off," Span said. "You can still go out there and play but ... you're just off."

Twins on the bandwagon

Brett Favre fever has hit the Twins' clubhouse.

"I've never really liked the Packers, but I've always liked Favre," Mauer said.

Gardenhire said before Wednesday's game that he'll probably purchase a purple No. 4 jersey.

"I think there will be a lot of us in the clubhouse wearing a Favre jersey before it's all over with," he said. "I've already heard a bunch of guys saying that they're getting one."

Mauer was asked when he is getting his.

"As soon as I get back," he said.

Etc.

• The Rangers on Wednesday placed former Twins reliever Eddie Guardado on the 15-day disabled list because of left knee inflammation -- and called up another former Twin to replace him. Righthander Willie Eyre, who pitched for the Twins in 2006, was called up from Class AAA Oklahoma City.

• Jason Kubel, who fouled a ball off his left knee on Tuesday, and Carlos Gomez, who took a foul tip off his hand, were back in the lineup.