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White Sox, Twins begin shortened series at Target Field

Jun 15, 2011 - 2:57 PM (Sports Network) - Even without playing a game on Tuesday, the Minnesota Twins still lost a key offensive piece to their offense for the next few weeks.

Minus Justin Morneau, the Minnesota Twins tonight open up a now two-game series against the Chicago White Sox after Tuesday's scheduled opener at Target Field was postponed due to weather.

The gray clouds hit the Twins long before the rain game down after Morneau was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The first baseman hasn't played since Thursday due to a left wrist strain, and though he is hitting just .225 with four homers and 21 RBI in 55 games this year, he was a veteran presence in a lineup that has been hit hard by injuries.

Morneau now joins the likes of Joe Mauer (leg weakness), Jim Thome (quad/back), Denard Span (concussion) and Jason Kubel (foot) as offensive players on the disabled list.

"We're looking at this as a short-term event, but we will put him on the DL," Twins general manager Bill Smith told his club's website of Morneau. "Rest, and they believe it will come around in that 10 days, plus a few days to get his range of motion back."

Those injuries are part of the reason the Twins are last in the American League Central and 10 games back of first place, but Minnesota has been playing well as of late. The club just took three of four from the Rangers thanks to Sunday's 6-1 triumph and has won nine of its last 11 games.

No longer playing under the roof of the Metrodome, the Twins will hope that their third home rainout of the season won't slow their momentum.

A change to Target Field hasn't hindered Minnesota's success over Chicago. The Twins have taken 24 of their past 30 meetings with the White Sox, going 13-5 versus them last year before sweeping a two-game set at Chicago back on May 3-4. Francisco Liriano opened that set for Minnesota with a no-hitter, striking out two while walking six.

The Twins have also won 22 of their last 28 at home over the White Sox, taking six of nine at Target Field a season ago.

Though Carl Pavano may miss Morneau's presence in the lineup, the righty has been just fine on his own over his last two starts.

Pavano beat the Royals on June 3 with a two-run complete game, then held the hosting Indians to just a run on seven hits over seven innings of a no- decision on Wednesday. He is 3-5 with a 4.54 earned run average in 13 starts this season.

The 35-year-old is 6-3 with a 3.94 ERA in nine career starts versus the White Sox.

Chicago starter Gavin Floyd, who like Pavano will now have an extra day of rest, hasn't been nearly as successful in this series, losing each of his last five starts against the Twins with a 7.31 ERA. In 13 career starts versus the club, he is 4-8 with a 5.27 ERA.

Floyd has allowed seven runs over his last two starts, spanning 12 2/3 innings, but still beat Boston on June 1 before earning a no-decision versus the Mariners one week later on Wednesday. The 28-year-old righty gave up three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings of that outing.

Floyd, who has not walked more than three batters in 40 straight starts, is 6-5 with a 3.89 ERA this season. He'll look to pitch the White Sox to their sixth victory in eight games tonight following Sunday's close 5-4 win over the Athletics.

"You just act like it's the same day, same rest, same everything," Floyd told Chicago's website. "You just go out there and refocus tomorrow and treat it like it's Day 5 or Day 6 again."

The White Sox will be trying to extend a recent power surge as Adam Dunn's three-run homer on Sunday marked the club's 11th straight game going deep.