The Twins will be on ESPN tonight, trying to hit Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball. He is 7-3 with a 3.95 ERA in 11 career starts at the Metrodome.

Craig Monroe is 6-for-19 (.316) with two home runs against Wakefield for his career. Justin Morneau is 3-for-10, Joe Mauer is 5-for-10 with one home run, and Delmon Young is 3-for-17 (.176) with one home run.

Note: Check out today’s earlier post on Carlos Gomez and Jacoby Ellsbury.

Red Sox (24-15)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. J.D. Drew, RF

7. Coco Crisp, CF

8. Kevin Cash, C

9. Alex Cora, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Tim Wakefield

Twins (18-17)

1. Carlos Gomez, CF

2. Matt Tolbert, 2B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Michael Cuddyer, RF

6. Craig Monroe, DH

7. Delmon Young, LF

8. Mike Lamb, 3B

9. Adam Everett, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Nick Blackburn

Metrodome. First pitch: 7:05 p.m.

The more I’m around Carlos Gomez, the more I realize how fortunate I am. For the Twin Cities sports media, he is our Manny Ramirez. Just as silly — or perhaps just as insanely brilliant — only with GoGo, you don’t need an act of Congress to get him to talk to the press.

As Gardy would say, “He just lets it fly.”

The latest example comes in Nick Cafardo’s Sunday baseball column in the Boston Globe:

Catching the speedy Gomez

Over the next few years, you’re going to be compared a lot to Jacoby Ellsbury. What do you think of him?

CG: “Who’s that? I don’t know him. What’s his name?” (Gomez pauses, and a teammate says, “Ellsbury, plays center field for Boston.”) “Oh yeah. He’s a very, very exciting player. His game is a lot like mine. He runs, can play defense, can hit, and has some power. Yeah, I like watching him a lot. I think I played against him in Double A.”

Let us reflect on this for a minute. How do you supposed that one is going over in The Nation?

Jacoby Ellsbury? Never heard of him.

Relax, Red Sox fans. That’s just GoGo being GoGo.

Cafardo’s column continues:

David Ortiz spent a lot of time talking to you before Friday’s game. What did he say?

CG: “Papi is my homeboy. He played on the same team I did in the Dominican, so we’re very close. He just told me not to let anything distract me. He told me to forget about money because the money will come if I’m a great player. He told me to just keep staying focused on baseball and nothing else. He told me to go 100 miles an hour and never let up. I don’t think I’ll ever change that.”

Seriously, let’s hope this 22-year-old doesn’t change. Yes, the Twins would hope he learns some of Manny’s strike zone discipline, but otherwise, here’s hoping he just continues letting it fly.

Alexi Casilla has been scratched from Class AAA Rochester’s lineup tonight and appears the likely choice to get called up with Nick Punto headed to the disabled list.

After a slow start, Casilla has raised his batting average to .219.

Hat tip to Jim Mandelaro, of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

UPDATE: The Twins just made the official announcement. Punto to the 15-day DL with a strained left hamstring, and Casilla is being recalled.

Nick Punto tested his left hamstring during batting practice, and it didn’t go well. He said he definitely feels a strain in there, and the Twins plan to place him on the 15-day disabled list after this game.

There will be a roster move announced later.

Brendan Harris, who left Friday’s game with a right hamstring issue, told Manager Ron Gardenhire he’s available in an emergency tonight and is hoping to play by Sunday.

Twins (18-16)

1. Carlos Gomez, CF

2. Matt Tolbert, 2B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Michael Cuddyer, RF

6. Jason Kubel, DH

7. Delmon Young, LF

8. Mike Lamb, 3B

9. Adam Everett, SS

Starting pitcher: LH Glen Perkins

Red Sox (23-15)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, RF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Coco Crisp, CF

9. Julio Lugo, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Daisuke Matsuzaka

Metrodome. First pitch: 6:10 p.m.

I spoke with Nick Punto. He said his left hamstring feels better, and he’s going to try pushing himself today during batting practice. He’s not in the lineup tonight, still day-to-day.

Brendan Harris also is out with a sore hamstring. Updates to come…

Twins (18-16)

1. Carlos Gomez, CF

2. Matt Tolbert, 2B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Michael Cuddyer, RF

6. Jason Kubel, DH

7. Delmon Young, LF

8. Mike Lamb, 3B

9. Adam Everett, SS

Starting pitcher: LH Glen Perkins

Red Sox (23-15)

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, LF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Manny Ramirez, LF

5. Mike Lowell, 3B

6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B

7. Jason Varitek, C

8. Coco Crisp, CF

9. Julio Lugo, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Daisuke Matsuzaka

Metrodome. First pitch: 6:10 p.m.

CHICAGO — Twins reliever Pat Neshek will have his injured right elbow examined by Twins orthopedist Dr. Dan Buss on Friday morning.

Neshek, 27, left today’s game in the eighth inning after throwing a slider to Chicago’s Joe Crede. He was diagnosed with an elbow strain.

“I don’t know medical terms or anything like that,” Neshek said. “It just felt like it tweaked, rolled over real quick like a snap, kind of. We’re going to get it checked out tomorrow morning and make sure nothing happened.”

(NOTE: I misquoted Pat earlier, thinking I heard him say it felt like “it snapped.” Went back and listened to my recorder and realized he said “It just felt like it tweaked, rolled over real quick like a snap.” Big difference there, and I regret the error. I’m sure this is hard enough for Pat and his family tonight, dealing with the uncertainty. Anyway, the headline on this post has been changed. La Velle will have updates as we get them Friday.)

Though Neshek wasn’t sure, it seems likely that he will have an MRI exam.

He said he is “a little concerned because I’ve never had anything like that. Last year, I had a weak shoulder, but this is something I had to come out of the game for.”

This is a tough development for the Twins. If the injury proves serious, the Twins would lose their top set-up man, a key piece to their success. Neshek has a 4.72 ERA in 15 appearances.

CHICAGO — Twins reliever Pat Neshek left today’s game in the eighth inning with an apparent arm injury. Brian Bass has taken his place.

Neshek delivered a pitch to Chicago’s Joe Crede and then grimaced. When trainer Rick McWane and third base coach Scott Ullger came to the mound to check on Neshek, he appeared to point to his right forearm.

Stay tuned for updates.

Update (4:12 p.m.): Neshek was diagnosed with a right elbow strain. He will be re-evaluated on Friday.

CHICAGO — Twins infielder Nick Punto was scratched from today’s starting lineup. Brendan Harris will take his place at second base.

The team said Punto has cramping in his left hamstring and was kept out of the lineup for precautionary reasons, especially in cold weather. It was 52 degrees with a 13-mph northeast wind at first pitch.

Note: Howard Sinker is hosting a live blog during today’s game, so click here to join the action.

Twins (17-15)

1. Carlos Gomez, CF

2. Matt Tolbert, 3B

3. Joe Mauer, C

4. Justin Morneau, 1B

5. Michael Cuddyer, RF

6. Craig Monroe, DH

7. Delmon Young, LF

8. Nick Punto, Brendan Harris, 2B

9. Adam Everett, SS

Starting pitcher: RH Kevin Slowey

White Sox (15-17)

1. Alexei Ramirez, SS

2. Carlos Quentin, LF

3. Jim Thome, DH

4. Paul Konerko, 1B

5. Jermaine Dye, RF

6. Nick Swisher, CF

7. Joe Crede, 3B

8. Juan Uribe, 2B

9. Toby Hall, C

Starting pitcher: LH John Danks

U.S. Cellular Field. First pitch: 1:05 p.m.