NEW YORK -- For the fourth consecutive game, Nelson Cruz was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday, due to the Twins facing off against the Mets in an Interleague game at Citi Field, hence no designated hitters.

Cruz hasn’t expressed frustration about not being in the lineup. He told Twins manager Rocco Baldelli that he would be available to pinch-hit if needed. Cruz is expected to be back in the starting lineup when the Twins return to Minnesota to play the Tigers starting Friday and is off to a promising start for Minnesota, going 6-for-19 (.316) with a homer and six RBIs.

“He is obviously a very important piece for us and a weapon. I will not hesitate to use him at any point,” Baldelli said. “We talk just about every day. We talk through everything. We are very much on the same page as to how he could be used. He keeps saying he is ready to go.

“I think these early National League games have posed very interesting dilemmas for every team, every roster. This is one of ours. We have a DH who can play in the outfield, but he is predominantly a DH. One of the best hitters in baseball. You want to get him in there as often as you possibly can. But you also have to make the decision of what is the most responsible way to use him.”

On-the-job training

The Twins were 5-3 entering Tuesday’s action, which is good for third place in the American League Central. However, don’t think that Baldelli believes he has everything figured out in the dugout. Since the regular season started, Baldelli said he has learned new things on a regular basis.

“From my perspective, anytime you think you have any part of this figured out, you not only get humbled, you have to rethink things very quickly,” Baldelli said. “One thing I feel fortunate about is, I have good people around me that I rely on every single day that I show up here.”

Asked what has made an impact during his two weeks on the job, Baldelli said, “At times, I think the speed of the game sticks out once the game starts. Like anything else, you can only prepare so much. Once the game starts flying, you have to know where to look and what to think and when to think it. Until you actually do take the role and actually try to do it first hand, you can never be fully prepared for that.”