Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 3
Beating up on the Minnesota Twins has helped the Chicago White Sox stake themselves to a 2 1/2-game lead in the American League Central. The White Sox will try to wrap up another series win over the Twins and preserve that lead Wednesday at Target Field. A.J. Pierzynski's two-run homer in the ninth inning Tuesday gave the White Sox their eighth win in 11 games against the Twins this season.
Chicago has won six straight series against Minnesota dating to last season, including all three this year. Veteran right-hander Jake Peavy will try to beat the Twins for the second time in a week after holding them to two runs (one earned) over six innings in an 8-2 win last Wednesday in Chicago. The Twins had a four-game winning streak snapped Tuesday to slide 12 games behind Chicago in the division, but Minnesota did not make any moves ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, Fox Sports North, MLB Network
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Jake Peavy (8-7, 3.15 ERA) vs. Twins LH Scott Diamond (9-4, 2.88)
Peavy has lost six of his last eight starts, but he pitched well last week against the Twins, avenging a loss June 25 in Minnesota. Peavy has gone at least six innings in 19 of 20 starts this season. He is 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA in eight starts against the Twins, including a 2-1 mark and a 1.33 ERA in three starts at Target Field.
Diamond is coming off the first complete game of his career, a three-hit shutout of Cleveland in which he struck out six and did not issue a walk. Diamond's defense and bats let him down when he faced the White Sox on May 23 in Chicago, as he allowed five runs - only two earned - in six innings in a 6-0 loss. He is 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA in three starts against the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pierzynski's 18 homers equal his single-season high over his 15-year major-league career. He also hit 18 in 2005. Pierzynski hit 26 homers in parts of six seasons with the Twins, who drafted him in the third round in 1994.
2. Twins OF Ben Revere, who is riding a career-best 14-game hit streak, is 5-for-12 (.417) against Peavy. Teammate Denard Span, who is on a nine-game streak, is 4-for-10 with four doubles against Peavy.
3. White Sox OF Alex Rios hit .340 (34-for-100) with six homers and 22 RBIs in July. He had multiple hits in 11 of 25 games in July, including each of the first two games of the series.