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Twins-White Sox Preview

Aug 12, 2010 - 5:04 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (64-49) at Chicago (63-50), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Two games into their key series, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins are right where they were to begin the set.

With a one-game lead in the AL Central on the line, the division rivals conclude their series Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.

After Minnesota hit five homers in a 12-6 win Monday to take sole possession of first place, Chicago limited the Twins to six hits in a 6-1 victory Tuesday to move back into a tie atop the Central at 64-50.

While one club will earn a slight advantage by winning the series, the teams play six more times after Thursday's contest - three next week in Minnesota.

"Regardless of what happens in this series, I don't think they're going to be handing out the trophy to either team at the end of the series," first baseman Paul Konerko told the White Sox's official website.

Konerko's club could have the momentum after snapping a three-game skid by beating the Twins for the fourth time in 11 meetings.

"It's great for us because all of a sudden, I didn't want to wake up and (there) be people in Chicago panicking about (being two games behind the Twins)," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Carlos Quentin hit a two-run homer for Chicago, which has won 21 of 24 at home. The former All-Star is 3 for 6 with two homers and six RBIs in the series after entering in a 1-for-15 slump.

A day after John Danks gave the White Sox eight solid innings, Gavin Floyd (8-8, 3.49 ERA) looks to win his career-high fourth consecutive start. Floyd has allowed three runs in 28 innings while going 3-0 in four starts, giving up two in seven innings of a 4-2 win at Baltimore on Saturday.

The right-hander is 6-2 with a 1.19 ERA in his last 12 outings.

"You can't predict you will pitch well, but you go out there and try to give it your all," Floyd said.

He was not as dominant in his only start versus Minnesota this year, allowing four runs in five innings of a 7-4 loss July 16. However, he has a 1.17 ERA while winning his past two home starts against the Twins - both in 2008 - and is 4-0 with a 0.86 ERA in his last six overall at U.S. Cellular Field.

Joe Mauer is hitting a modest .276 against Floyd, but he's 5 for 9 in the series. The All-Star catcher is 27 for 50 with 19 RBIs in his last 13 games.

Minnesota, however, is likely to be without shortstop J.J. Hardy after he left Wednesday's game with pain in the same left wrist that sent him to the disabled list twice this season.

With set-up man Jon Rauch already day-to-day while nursing a sprained toe, Twins reliever Jose Mijares could be headed to the DL after he injured his knee Wednesday.

That could mean Minnesota will need an extended effort from Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.33) in this contest.

The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA in five starts, but he had a 21-inning scoreless streak snapped after giving up four runs and walking six in 4 2-3 innings of a 7-6 loss at Cleveland on Friday.

"He was close to getting where he wanted to be, but he never quite got there," manager Ron Gardenhire told the Twins' official website.

Liriano is 1-3 with a 6.67 ERA in five starts against the White Sox, but 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA in two this year. He is looking for his first victory at U.S. Cellular Field after going 0-3 with an 8.27 ERA in four starts there.