If someone had told you in March, when Joe Nathan had Tommy John surgery, that the Twins would be preparing for a possible division clincher on Sept. 21, would you have believed it?

Or how about if you'd known that Justin Morneau would suffer a potential season-ending concussion July 7? Or that Joe Mauer would be batting .293 at the All-Star break? Or that Opening Day starter Scott Baker would need two cortisone shots in his right elbow? Or that infielders J.J. Hardy, Orlando Hudson and Nick Punto would combine to make seven trips to the disabled list?

Yet, here they are at Target Field, with their magic number at two. If the Twins defeat Cleveland tonight (Baker vs. Fausto Carmona), they'll settle in to watch the White Sox finish their 9 p.m., game in Oakland (Mark Buehrle vs. Trevor Cahill). If the Twins win and the White Sox lose, there will be a late-night celebration.

We'll be checking for news on Joe Mauer's MRI exam. Jason Kubel is expected back in the lineup. Updates to come...

Update: Mauer's MRI exam showed tissue inflammation in his left knee but nothing more serious, Manager Ron Gardenhire said.

"Everything came out good, so good news," Gardenhire said.

Mauer might have a cortisone shot -- a decision being made with team doctors -- and assuming he does, Gardenhire anticipates Mauer would miss another four or five days.

Update: Gardenhire said he will be home by the time the White Sox are finished playing tonight. He reminded the media that the Twins have a noon game Wednesday.

"If we win tonight, and [the White Sox] lose tonight, I guarantee you we'll have some fun tomorrow, one way or another," Gardenhire said.

What, a celebratory brunch?

"We'll let you have a celebratory brunch," Gardenhire said. "We're going to play a baseball game [Wednesday] and after the game, we'll do our thing ... and we might even let you in."

Update: Shortstop J.J. Hardy was scratched with a migraine. Nick Punto replaces him in the lineup.

INDIANS (62-88)

1. Michael Brantley, CF
2. Drew Sutton, SS
3. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
4. Travis Hafner, DH
5. Jordan Brown, 1B
6. Andy Marte, 3B
7. Trevor Crowe, LF
8. Luis Valbuena, 2B
9. Lou Marson, C

Starting pitcher: RH Fausto Carmona (12-14, 3.81 ERA)

TWINS (90-60)

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Hudson, 2B
3. Jason Kubel, RF
4. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
5. Jim Thome, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Danny Valencia, 3B
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Drew Butera, C

Starting pitcher: RH Scott Baker (12-9, 4.60 ERA)

Target Field. First pitch: 7:10 p.m. TV: FSN. Twins Radio Network