Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Minnesota 1
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 Two: 8:10 p.m. ET, WCIU (Chicago), FSNO (Minnesota).
PITCHING MATCHUPS: Game Two: Twins LH Scott Diamond (1-2, 4.82 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Zach Stewart (1-2, 5.86 ERA).
Diamond will be making his third straight start since becoming an injury replacement in the Twins rotation. The 25-year-old rookie picked up his first major league win at Chicago last week, allowing three runs on three hits in six innings.
Fellow rookie Stewart has been terrible recently, yielding a total of 13 runs in 10 2/3 innings over his last two starts. Six of those runs were to the Twins last Tuesday, in a game Chicago eventually came back to win. Stewart won at Minnesota on Aug. 6, allowing one run in 6 1/3 frames.
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.