• Rivera, a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees, is baseball's all-time leader in saves (635) and games finished (926).

• The 43-year-old wasn't always a reliever. He's a converted shortstop who didn't make his major league debut until he was 25, then developed an outstanding cut fastball that is his trademark pitch.

• Rivera's 2.20 ERA entering Tuesday was 13th best in history, and his career WHIP (walks and hits per nine innings) of 1.003 was the best in baseball since 1920.

• In 12 postseason appearances vs. the Twins, the 12-time All-Star has not given up a run. During the regular season, he has 55 appearances against the Twins with 34 saves and four blown saves.

• Rivera had a record streak of 51 converted save opportunities at home end on May 16, 2010, when Jason Kubel hit a two-out grand slam off him in the eighth for a 6-3 Twins victory.

• Despite his continued success, Rivera says retirement after this season "is definite. No question about it."