ST. PETERSBURG — Joe Mauer was not in the lineup Monday night against the Rays, but Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said before the game that the catcher would be available to pinch-hit if necessary.

Mauer had a cortisone shot in his right shoulder Saturday night, sat out Sunday with shoulder tendinitis and was feeling better Monday afternoon.

“A little sore still from the shot, but we’ll give him another day-to-day,” Gardenhire said. “He’s available to pinch-hit, and we’ll see where he’s at come tomorrow. He should be available to pinch-hit today, taking some light swings in the cage.”

Mauer’s right shoulder had been bothering him since a foul tip bounced off it during the Twins’ pre-All Star break road trip to Toronto and Detroit. An MRI showed no structural damage, so the cortisone injection should be enough to ease the pain.

“His arm feels a lot better, but it’s still going to be a little sore,” Gardenhire said. “We’d like to give him two days if we can possibly do that.”

Drew Butera started at catcher Monday night, and Gardenhire said he was happy to have depth at the position, as Jose Morales can provide a little backup after being called up from Triple-A Rochester on July 26. In the meantime, Gardenhire said, Mauer will just have to wait for the cortisone shot to run its course.

“We have to let it work. Time will tell,” Gardenhire said. “It’s about letting the medicine taking over now, and hopefully, he’ll get in the right spot and feel better. He feels better today than he did yesterday.”