(SportsNetwork.com) - Ricky Nolasco will try to pitch the Minnesota Twins to a series victory in his return from the disabled list on Saturday afternoon as he faces the Chicago White Sox in the third contest of a four-game set.
Nolasco made just one start, on April 8 in Detroit where he was touched for six runs on six hits and four walks over three innings, before landing on the DL due to right elbow inflammation.
The 32-year-old made a rehab start on Sunday and will likely be limited today in the number of pitches he throws. He hurled 67 pitches with Class-A Cedar Rapids last weekend.
"I'm just glad to be getting back to normal and to being on my five days," Nolasco told Minnesota's website. "I want to start building on that and start pitching deep into games."
Reliever Brian Duensing (right intercostal strain) also is expected to come off the DL and the Twins optioned hurlers Tommy Milone and Caleb Thielbar to Triple-A Rochester after Friday night's game.
Right-hander Hector Noesi will make his third start of the season today for Chicago and first since April 21. He last scheduled start on Monday in Baltimore was postponed due to protests in the area.
Noesi opened his season with a 6-0 loss to Minnesota on April 10, though he allowed just two runs over 4 2/3 innings despite four hits and six walks. The 28-year-old then didn't make his second start until April 21 versus Cleveland and dropped a 6-2 decision. Noesi yielded four runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, serving up two homers and striking out five.
Noesi is 2-2 with a 4.15 earned run average in eight games (6 starts) versus the Twins.
Minnesota has won five of its past seven games and after blowing out Chicago in Thursday's opener, it eked out a 1-0 victory on Friday behind eight scoreless innings by starter Kyle Gibson.
The only run the Twins scored came on a Jose Quintana wild pitch in the fifth inning and Gibson cruised through his outing. However, close Glen Perkins put together a shaky ninth inning before eventually posting his seventh save of the season.
Gibson allowed just four hits and received plenty of Gold Glove-level defense behind him. He struck out four, walked one and was three outs away from posting his first career complete game and shutout.
"When I get out there I just try to execute," Gibson said. "When I do that, I'm confident."
The White Sox lost their previous two games by a combined score of 20-4, including a 12-2 drubbing in the opener of this four-game AL Central series.
Quintana was saddled with the loss after giving up one run on six hits over seven innings.
"He pitched great and gave us a chance," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of his starter.
Chicago's Adam Eaton did not play on Friday due to flu-like symptoms and could be forced to sit out again today.
Chicago took two of three from the Twins earlier in the year.
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