(My Sportsbook) - Last season's top two teams in the American League Central renew acquaintances tonight at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field, where the defending division champion White Sox begin a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins.

The stakes were high the last time these two rivals squared off in Chicago back on September 30 of last season. In a one-game playoff to determine the winner of the AL Central, the White Sox edged the Twins by a 1-0 count to advance to the postseason. Young pitcher John Danks yielded just two hits over eight shutout innings for Chicago in that game, with Jim Thome accounting for the only run with a solo homer in the seventh inning.

The home team generally reigned supreme in this series last year. The Twins won eight of nine matchups with the Sox in Minnesota, but lost eight of their 10 games played at U.S. Cellular Field.

Danks came through with another excellent outing on the mound for Chicago yesterday, although the left-hander ended up with nothing to show for his six shutout innings in the team's 2-1 loss to Kansas City.

The game was scoreless until the Royals' Coco Crisp slugged a two-run homer off White Sox closer Bobby Jenks with one out in the top of the ninth inning. Chicago got a run back in the bottom of the frame after Carlos Quentin stroked a leadoff double and later scored on a Jermaine Dye groundout.

The White Sox would threaten afterward, as Paul Konerko drew a two-out walk and moved to second on an error, but Kansas City's Joakim Soria struck out pinch-hitter Wilson Betemit to end the threat.

Danks allowed just three hits and struck out five in a hard-luck no decision.

Jose Contreras will try to follow up Danks' performance tonight in the veteran pitcher's first major league start since rupturing his Achilles tendon last August. The 37-year-old Cuban went 7-6 with a 4.54 earned run average in 20 starts prior to the injury.

Contreras' best work usually came at U.S. Cellular Field, as the right-hander posted a 3.25 ERA and a 4-3 record in 10 home starts last year, compared to a 5.85 ERA on the road.

He did not face the Twins last season, but owns a 4-3 record with a 4.13 ERA lifetime against Minnesota.

The Twins will send out swingman R.A. Dickey, who was moved from a long-relief role into the rotation when Scott Baker was placed on the disabled list last week. The journeyman righty made the club as a non-roster invitee after giving up just two runs and striking out 18 batters over 17 2/3 innings during spring training.

Dickey spent last season with the Seattle Mariners and compiled a 5-8 record with a 5.21 ERA in 32 appearances, 14 of which were starts. As a starter, he went just 3-8 with a 6.72 ERA, however.

The 34-year-old knuckleball specialist made one start for the Mariners against the White Sox in 2008. That came last August at U.S. Cellular Field, and Dickey was rocked for eight runs on six hits to take the loss in a 15-3 Seattle setback. Lifetime against Chicago, he is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA over three relief outings and that one start.

Minnesota comes in off a season-opening split of a four-game set with Seattle at the Metrodome. The Mariners drew even with Thursday's 2-0 triumph in which the Twins mustered just five hits against starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn and closer Brandon Morrow.

The loss spoiled an excellent showing by Minnesota starter Glen Perkins, who was touched for a run in the opening frame but did not allow any more over the course of his eight-inning stint. The left-hander gave up just five hits and walked two in his season debut.