Chicago White Sox vs. Minnesota Twins: Series Preview
By Ian Acosta
Following yesterday’s historic 8-2 loss against the Baltimore Orioles in which no fans were allowed to attend due to safety precautions, the 8-10 Chicago White Sox still look to find some semblance of a rhythm in this early season and will look to get a streak going today in the opener of a four-game set against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
On the bump is the White Sox ace, our horse, our guy (and my personal favorite) left-hander Chris Sale. Facing these same Twins in his first start of the 2015 season, Sale went six innings while giving up five hits, one run, and racking up eight strikeouts.
We should expect much of the same or an even better start tomorrow night. Career-wise Sale is a dazzling 7-1 in 9 starts with 76 strikeouts. The Twins usually cannot touch Sale and I do not see that changing in tomorrow’s scheduled start against Trevor May and his Minnesota Twins. Just have to hope the offense can find and keep that spark that we have seen in a few games so far this season.
The second game of this four-game set will see one of our other southpaws Jose Quintana matchup against right-hander Kyle Gibson. Gibson has given up three earned runs or less in each of his last three starts while Quintana is coming off his strong bounce back outing against the Kansas City Royals.
Hopefully Q can build off his start against those pesky Royals and round more into the form White Sox fans have come to expect seeing out of him these past two seasons. Oh and maybe not get another no-decision, but we’ll have to cross our fingers really tight for that to happen.
Apr 26, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher John Danks (50) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
On Saturday afternoon, our third lefty in as many days will take the mound, John Danks against Home Opener spoiler Tommy Milone. I have already witnessed firsthand this year as to what Milone can do to our lineup and I hope to not see that performance that repeated on Saturday. Danks looks to build off a quality start of his own as he looks to shut down the Twins’ lineup while looking for some run support from his currently stagnant offense.
The Sunday midday finale has Hector Noesi against Mike Pelfrey who has thus far looked very impressive against fellow division rivals Cleveland, Kansas City, and Detroit.
Giving up just three earned over his last three starts combined, the White Sox will have to try and rough up Pelfrey for some runs just as they did in his first start of the season against them in which five different White Sox players registered a run. Noesi looks to get on track this season in his third start because in his first two he has looked less than stellar with trouble getting people out and finding the strike zone.
If there is one team our boys can get a streak going against, it’s these Minnesota Twins.
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