Chicago White Sox vs Minnesota Twins Series Preview
By Ian Acosta
As we wind down into the last full month of baseball for the 2015 season, the Chicago White Sox travel to the Twin Cities of Minnesota to take on the playoff hopeful Minnesota Twins. By now, most White Sox fans know this season is lost, but I also personally love rooting for a team playing spoiler and the White Sox look to execute that role this series.
Let’s take a look at the pitching probables this series and some predictions for this AL Central showdown.
Tuesday’s matchup sees White Sox ace and Cy Young hopeful Chris Sale square off against young right-hander Tyler Duffey. Duffey owns a 2-1 record with a modest 4.29 earned run average but that statistic does not tell the full story.
In his last three starts, Duffey has given up only four earned runs but has had some fortunate luck as he’s scattered seventeen hits over his past two starts. Hopefully the White Sox can solve this rookie and get some good wood on the ball.
As for Sale, he has had his struggles against the Twins this season. He owns a 6.46 earned run average against them this year which is less than desirable to say the least. As a matter of fact, the last time Sale faced the Twins in Minnesota, he gave up five earned runs and nine hits.
This all means is that Sale is throwing a two-hit shutout. Book it. Remember where you heard it. Credit me properly.
Final score: White Sox 5 Twins 0.
Wednesday’s tilt will see White Sox top rookie Carlos Rodon against the unbeatable Tommy Milone. And by unbeatable, I mean the White Sox cannot beat him for some reason.
Milone has given up 12 total hits between his two starts against the White Sox this year and they haven’t been able to take advantage either time. With the luck and talent this team has shown this year I am unfortunately not expecting much. However, I am looking forward to hopefully another strong Carlos Rodon outing.
Rodon has shown his plus stuff recently only giving up five runs combined over his last four outings while racking up 29 strikeouts. However, walks still continue to bother the young southpaw as he averages three walks a start and is actually second in the American League in walks. I’m expecting another solid start from Rodon but I hope he continues to work on cutting down the walks. If he can keep them to one or two at the most, I think the White Sox may have a shot.
I’ll say White Sox in a close game.
Final score: White Sox 4 Twins 3.
The finale will feature John Danks against Kyle Gibson in a prime afternoon getaway game.
Danks has struggled as of late giving up at least five hits in his last five starts and thirteen earned runs in his past three. Danks looked impressive the other day against the Seattle Mariners however the White Sox could not provide him with any backup. Danks, like Sale, does not usually fare well against the Twins as he possesses a lifetime 5.76 earned run average in over 170 innings pitched.
Kyle Gibson is basically Tommy Milone number two when it comes to the White Sox this season. A total of sixteen combined innings and one lonely earned run. Is everybody ready for a bold prediction? Both White Sox starters figure out their Minnesota Twins issues, throw shutouts for their teams and sweep the Twins in Minnesota.
My prediction: White Sox 3 Twins 0.
Next: Five bold White Sox predictions for September