Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2011 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Minnesota 0

THE STORY: A three-game winning streak has done nothing to move the Chicago White Sox closer to the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. With time working against them, the White Sox look to extend their hot streak as they eye a sweep of the host Minnesota Twins. Wednesday's matchup features a pair of veterans enduring difficult seasons, as Chicago sends John Danks against Minnesota's Carl Pavano.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSNO (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH John Danks (6-10, 4.01 ERA) vs. Twins RH Carl Pavano (7-11, 4.60)

Danks bore the brunt of the Tigers' formidable offense in his last outing, tagged for eight runs in just 4 2/3 innings in what was his worst outing in more than three months. The 26-year-old lefty has been solid since the All-Star break, going 3-2 in eight starts with a 3.63 ERA - but that doesn't fully atone for a dreadful first half in which he won just three of his 15 outings.

Pavano ended a lengthy string of misery in his previous start, limiting the Angels to three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings in a one-sided victory. The 35-year-old had gone 0-5 in his previous nine starts, including a tough loss to the White Sox in which he allowed just two runs - one earned - over eight frames. Pavano is 8-4 with a 3.26 ERA in 12 career starts against Chicago.

ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (71-69): It may be too late to salvage a playoff spot, but the Chicago pitching staff appears to have recovered nicely from the beating it took at the hands of the Tigers last week. White Sox hurlers were obliterated for 35 runs in the three-game sweep at the hands of division-leading Detroit, but have limited the woeful Twins to a lone run in the first three games of their four-game set. Part of that is due to a Minnesota offense that ranks near the bottom of the majors in most categories - but it also bodes well for a Chicago club that will need strong pitching to have any chance of catching the streaking Tigers, who have won five straight.

ABOUT THE TWINS (58-84): Minnesota came into the season believing it had a shot at the AL Central title. About all the Twins have to play for now is the hope of avoiding their first 90-loss season since 2000. Injuries have transformed a team that had made the playoffs in six of the past nine seasons into a club that has now been playing out the string for weeks. Thursday's defeat was the fifth in a row for the Twins, who are guaranteed just their second losing season in the past 11 years. Minnesota's current roster is hitting a robust .322 in 264 at-bats vs. Danks. Michael Cuddyer (.451, 5 HR, 12 RBI) has had the most success against him.

FINAL PITCH: The White Sox are looking to win straight road games against the Minnesota franchise for the first time since 1956-57, when it was based in Washington.