Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2011 ) Minnesota 7, Chi. White Sox 6
THE STORY: The Minnesota Twins are usually in the race at this point in the season, if not far out in front of the American League Central. But in 2011, the Twins’ main goal through the final weeks of the season will be to avoid falling into last place. The Chicago White Sox are coming off a rough weekend in Detroit that severely damaged their slim hopes at a division title. After being swept by the first-place Tigers, the White Sox now sit in third place, 8 1/2 games back and a game under .500. Chicago will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak and bounce back from an embarrassing loss when it welcomes Philip Humber off the disabled list to begin a day-night doubleheader at Target Field on Monday.
TV: Game One: 2:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSNO (Minnesota).
PITCHING MATCHUPS: Game One: Twins RH Anthony Swarzak (3-5, 4.14 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Philip Humber (8-8, 3.63 ERA).
Swarzak was lit up by Chicago last Tuesday, surrendering eight runs - six earned - in 4 1/3 innings to suffer his worst start of the season. The 25-year-old has shuffled back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation as injuries have dictated and is 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA as a starter. Swarzak put together one of his better starts against the White Sox on July 10, allowing one run on four hits in six innings to pick up the win.
Humber will start for the first time since getting hit above the right eye with a line drive on Aug. 18. The wheels were starting to come off a bit for the righthander prior to the injury, as he had not won since July 2 while posting a 7.52 ERA in his previous five starts. Humber was knocked around for six runs in 3 2/3 innings in a loss to Minnesota on July 7.
ABOUT THE TWINS (58-81): Injuries have been the biggest problem in Minnesota this season, with former MVPs Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau missing significant time and the starting rotation in shambles. Lefthander Brian Duensing was the latest to go down, suffering an oblique strain in Saturday’s loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Duensing joins fellow starters Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn on the shelf. Mauer returned to the lineup on Sunday following a two-day rest due to a respiratory infection and hit a solo homer - just his second of the season. That was all the offense the Twins could muster in a 4-1 setback. A loser of 11 of its last 14 contests, Minnesota is just one-game ahead of the last-place Kansas City Royals.
ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (68-69): It wasn’t that long ago that things were looking up for Chicago. The White Sox had won five straight at the beginning of last week to pull three games over .500 and into second place in the AL Central, five games behind the Tigers with a three-game showdown looming. But then the White Sox dropped a series finale to the Twins and became the 21st team to fall to Justin Verlander last Friday. They held an 8-1 lead at one point on Saturday before a blown save sent them to a 9-8 defeat. Sunday was the tipping point, as ace Mark Buehrle lasted just 3 1/3 innings and Chicago was shellacked, 18-2. The starting pitching, which had been so strong in pushing the team up the standings, has combined to allow 25 earned runs in 18 innings over the last four games.
FINAL PITCH: White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin will not come off the disabled list on Monday, the first day he is eligible. Quentin suffered a sprained left shoulder making a diving catch on Aug. 20 and has reported progress in his rehab, just not enough for game action.