CHICAGO -- Tommy Milone tried to throw in the bullpen this morning in advance of his start on Monday.
``It was not good," he said.

Soon after that, the Twins announced that Milone would not make his start on Monday against the Tigers. Milone felt pain shoot up his neck on Wednesday during long toss drills and felt discomfort throughout his session on Saturday

``I could feel it on pretty much every throw," Milone said. ``It wasn't bad but I could tell I was holding back. I was trying to not make my neck hurt.

``The last two pitches I tried to let it go like I would normally in a game. And it didn't feel good. We shut it down."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said that Anthony Swarzak is the preferred candidate to start in place of Milone, but that's if the bullpen survives three games in two days in Chicago, thanks to Friday's rainout creating a doubleheader on Saturday. Swarzak is 3-1 with a 3.95 ERA in 47 games (one start).

``He's not starting," Gardenhire said. ``We will be ad-libbing on Monday. We have to get through these three games and see where we are at with the bullpen and everyone else.

It's been a rocky road for Milone since being traded to the Twins from Oakland for Sam Fuld on July 31. Milone, 27, was 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 16 starts with Oakland but is 0-1, 7.40 in five starts with the Twins.

He missed his previous because of a tired arm, but said on Saturday that his arm felt great.

The neck, however, has been an issue most of the season but hasn't interfered with his throwing until Saturday.

``I have been battling this side of my neck the whole year, ever since spring training with the A's," he said. ``So it is something I have been dealing with. It has never affected me while I was throwing.
Wednesday, I was throwing long toss, and it was a sharp pain on one of those throws. It shot up my neck and since then it hasn't been the same."

Milone has been unable to show the Twins what he can do.

``That's what is really frustrating," he said. ``Finally getting back to where I feel strong and feel good, and something else pops up."

Twins (62-84)

Danny Santana, CF
Brian Dozier, 2B
Joe Mauer, 1B
Kennys Vargas, DH
Trevor Plouffe, 3B
Oswaldo Arcia, RF
Kurt Suzuki, C
Eduardo Escobar, SS
Aaron Hicks, LF

Phil Hughes, RHP

White Sox (66-80)

Adam Eaton, CF
Alexei Ramirez, SS
Jose Abreu, DH
Conor Gillaspie, 3B
Avisail Garcia, RF
Jordan Danks, LF
Tyler Flowers, C
Andy Wilkins, 1B
Carlos Sanchez, 2B

Jose Quintana, LHP