GAME:
Chicago White Sox (49-54) at Minnesota Twins (46-55)
DATE/TIME:
Friday, July 25 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE:
Target Field, Minneapolis, Minnesota
LINE:
102, -110
TOTAL:
9
The Minnesota Twins will try to snap out of an offensive funk when they host the Chicago White Sox on Friday in the second of four straight games. After winning five of six games before the All-Star break, capped by a 13-run effort at Colorado in the final game before the intermission, the Twins have stumbled out of the gate in the second half. After a 5-2 loss to the White Sox in the series opener, they've averaged 2.4 runs in a 2-5 stretch.
Chicago has also endured some recent offensive woes, having scored five total runs in dropping two of three to Kansas City earlier in the week. However, after Hector Noesi allowed just two runs in 7 2/3 innings Thursday night, the starting staff boasted a 3.23 ERA since June 23, a run that includes 20 quality starts. The bullpen has been more erratic, particularly at closer, but Jake Petricka nailed down his fifth save in the opener and owns a 1.23 ERA over his last 13 outings.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, FSN North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH John Danks (8-6, 4.35 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kevin Correia (5-12, 4.76)
Danks has won five of his last six decisions but is coming off a rocky no-decision Sunday against Houston, which got to him for seven runs and a season-high 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings. That was his worst start since he gave up six runs on 10 hits and four walks in just five innings at Minnesota on June 22. The rough outing versus the Twins left the 29-year-old Danks with a 1-4 record and a 7.50 ERA in six career starts at Target Field.
Correia has an American League-leading 12 losses after giving up four runs and seven hits in four innings of a 5-3 defeat to Tampa Bay on Sunday. That broke a string of seven straight starts in which the veteran had lasted at least six innings, a span that saw him post a solid 2.30 ERA. Included in that stretch was a solid outing against the White Sox on June 21, when Correia let up one earned run in six innings to improve to 3-2 with a 2.93 mark in his career versus Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox OF Dayan Viciedo is 6-for-11 with a home run and a double against Correia.
2. Minnesota is 15-39 when its opponent scores first.
3. Chicago DH Adam Dunn is 5-for-13 with a home run, three walks and four RBIs during a modest four-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Twins 5, White Sox 4