Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 26, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Minnesota 2

The Chicago White Sox extended their lead over the Indians to 1 1/2 games in the AL Central on Tuesday behind a solid outing by Gavin Floyd, who snapped an eight-start losing streak against the Minnesota Twins in a 3-0 win. Chicago 1B Paul Konerko went 0-for-3 in the victory, dropping his average to .333 after he was at .399 on May 27. Shortstop Alexei Ramirez is hitting .382 over his last 16 games (21-for-55), while DH Adam Dunn struck out two more times Tuesday, giving him 121 this season.

Minnesota sits 8 1/2 games back in the AL Central, so attention is quickly turning toward next month’s trade deadline. The Atlanta Braves were reportedly scouting Francisco Liriano during Monday’s start against the White Sox, when he gave up one run over seven innings. Liriano, who can become a free agent at the end of the season, has recorded a quality start in five of his last six outings, lowering his ERA from 8.47 to 5.30 during that stretch.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSN (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Nick Blackburn (4-4, 7.45 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (8-2, 2.24 ERA)

Sale pitched eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts against the Brewers last Friday, rebounding from a subpar outing against the Dodgers. He’s gone 5-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last eight starts and has a 59-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 55 1/3 innings over that stretch. Sale tossed seven scoreless innings against the Twins on May 23.

Blackburn has not lost a start since May 6, going 4-0 over his last six outings. He allowed four runs over five innings against Cincinnati last Friday. While Blackburn’s record has improved, he’s hardly been dominant. He’s only pitched past the fifth inning in one of his last six starts, and he has an 8.04 ERA over that span.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox have won seven of their last nine games at Target Field after losing eight of their first 11.

2. Minnesota reliever Tyler Robertson made a memorable major league debut on Tuesday, striking out the side in the eighth inning.

3. Twins RF Ben Revere struck out twice on Tuesday after fanning just four times in his first 101 plate appearances this month.