Rauch receives cortisone shot for ailing knee, says he'll be ready for ALDS

MINNEAPOLIS -- The hits keep on coming for the Minnesota Twins.

After a 13-2 bludgeoning by the Toronto Blue Jays, manager Ron Gardenhire revealed that right-hander Jon Rauch had fluid drained from his left knee. Rauch also received a cortisone shot and will not pitch this weekend.

"We'll have to determine whether he's even going to be fit for the playoff roster," Gardenhire said. "We'll just have to see that on the days off.

"He's been getting treatment on it, but he's always been able to pitch. Today he was seeing the doctor this afternoon, and before the game he came in and told me they drained his knee and took a lot of fluid off of it."

Update: Rauch said Friday, "It's something I've been pitching with for a little over a month, and I think I got to a point where I wouldn't be able to go 100 percent, and it's not going to be a help to the ball club. We have the time to drain it, get a little bit of rest in and be ready to go. I don't think I'm going to have any issues being ready for the playoffs."

Rauch has found a nice groove in September, allowing runs in only one of his 12 appearances.

Phil Mackey is a columnist for 1500ESPN.com. He co-hosts "Reusse & Mackey" weekdays from 4 to 6pm on 1500 ESPN Twin Cities.
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