Game of the day: Chicago White Sox at Minnesota

[Raji]

Matchup: Chicago White Sox at Minnesota Twins

Line: -185, 7 1/2

Today's Pitching Matchup

In his last outing against the Twins, Jose Contreras dominated. The powerful righty threw a complete game shutout at the Metrodome on May 10, bringing his overall record against the Twins to 4-2 with a 3.11 ERA. Contreras' most recent start for the White Sox was more of a battle, he gave up nine hits to the Oakland A's last Monday, but was able to limit the damage to just three runs allowed over 6 1/3 innings.

That performance allowed the White Sox to win as -110 faves and leaves Contreras with a 4-4 record for the season, with a 3.71 ERA.

Don't let his 5-4 record fool you, Johan Santana is pitching well this season. The Twins ace has an impressive 3.05 ERA and has struck out more than 80 batters in the just 10 starts so far. Santana's last start came on Tuesday night against the Rangers and he put on a solid display, allowing only one run on four hits in seven innings and fanned a season-best 13 batters, one shy of his career high. In his last outing against the White Sox, Santana allowed only one hit over seven innings, striking out nine and walking three in the win.

Guillen Ponders: Youth or experience?

Saturday's cancellation of the White Sox-Devil Rays game due to inclement weather left Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen with a tough decision: start the promising rookie John Danks against the defending American League Cy Young winner, or push him back a day to go with someone more experienced. In the end, experience won out and Danks will now start on Tuesday night against Boof Bonser. The rookie is dissappointed, not relieved, to have avoided a showdown with the game's best pitcher.

"You beat a guy like Santana and you put yourself on the map a little bit," Danks said. "We are here to be the best and if you want to be the best, Santana is the best in the game. You beat a guy like that and it will be a big boost."

Instead, Chicago will hand the ball to Contreras, who dominated in his last appearance against the Twins and is 2-0 in his career at the Metrodome.

Appreciate the under

With both of today's starters pitching well, betting the under is one of the most popular bets of the day.

In his 10 starts this season, Johan Santana has an O/U record of 3-6, with four of his last five starts playing under the total set by bookmakers. In fact, the under is 4-1-1 in Santana's last 6 starts against. American League Central opposition.

Although not quite as dominant as Santana, Contreras has an O/U record of 4-4 in nine starts and has been under the total in two of his last three outings. The last time Contreras lined up against the Twins, he went nine innings without giving up a run and the game finished well under the total with just three runs scored.

Just in case you need anymore convincing, the under is 6-1-2 in the last nine meetings between these two teams.

Can't get no relief

Three road trips in a row will take its toll on any team, but the Twins have more than just fatigue to show for their travels - they return home to the Metrodome having lost three relief pitchers to injury. Jesse Crain will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery this week, Glen Perkins was put on the 15-day disabled list with a muscle strain in his left shoulder and Dennys Reyes was also put on the DL on Thursday due to shoulder inflammation.

That has forced manager Ron Gardenhire to add three new pitchers to the bullpen, only one of which had previous major league experience. Gardenhire is still unsure how he will utilize his new relievers, but hopes to know more about them by the end of this week.

"They're here for depth right now and to eat up some innings," Gardenhire said of the three added arms. "We'll just check them out as we go here and I'll have to get a feel for them once I start putting them out there. But we'll find spots for them. The two left-handers could maybe come in and get a lefty out but we'll probably start them in long relief."

The Twins are hoping to have Reyes ready to pitch on June 4 - in time for a three game series with the L.A. Angels, while Perkins has been given a 2-4 week recovery time.

Stepping up to the challenge

White Sox star Darin Erstad was given the option of taking the day off on Sunday against Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir or today against Santana. The hard-nosed veteran chose to be in the lineup to face the Twins' ace pitcher and sat out the series finale against Tampa on Sunday.

Manager Ozzie Guillen was happy with Erstad's decision: "So would I," said Guillen when asked what he would do given the same the choice. "You get a real comfortable 0-for-4 against him."

Erstad has had limited success against Santana during his career. He is 8-for-32 with one double and three RBIs against the lefty.

In knee-d of some practice

In the week since Jeff Cirillo made his first start for the Twins, he has gone from an injury riddled peripheral player to an important part of the team's defense. Cirillo has just recovered from a surgically repaired left knee and the Twins manager is cautious about this comeback.

"He has great hands and he can pick it, that's for sure," Gardenhire said. "Mostly it's a question of whether he had his legs underneath him enough and now he feels that they are."

The third baseman started his third consecutive game Saturday and Cirillo says feeling comfortable out on the field has been his main challenge.

"The lateral movements were what worried me before but I feel fine. So far the knee is good."

Cirillo himself is delighted to be back on the field and feels the more he can play the better he will get. ""Are my knees 25-year-old knees? No, but I still think I can play above average third base," he said. "I like getting out and playing the field. I feel much better being able to play defense."

Raji