Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) Minnesota 2, Chi. White Sox 6

A rainout in the finale of a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers may have helped the Chicago White Sox regain their equilibrium and, more importantly, maintain their one-game lead atop the American League Central. After losing two straight to the second-place Tigers, the White Sox will look to get back on the winning track Friday in a three-game series at Minnesota. Chris Sale will start the series opener for Chicago, which has won 11 of 15 against the Twins this season.

Minnesota averted a sweep and pulled out a dramatic win over Kansas City on a walk-off double by Denard Span in the 10th inning Thursday night. Span's hit came after Trevor Plouffe homered in the ninth to force extra innings. It was the second game back for Span since missing more than two weeks with a shoulder injury. Plouffe homered 14 times between June 2 and July 3 but has gone deep just twice since, losing more than three weeks to injury.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), FSNO (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (16-6, 2.88 ERA) vs. Twins RH Esmerling Vasquez (0-1, 9.35)

Sale has struggled in his past three starts, although he got the win by holding Kansas City to one run on five hits in six innings last time out. He lost his previous two starts - both on the road - and gave up four runs in each. Sale has been brilliant at home, logging a 9-2 mark with a sparkling 1.72 ERA in 12 starts. He is 8-0 with nine runs allowed in his last nine outings at U.S. Cellular Field, compared to a 7-4 mark and 4.01 ERA on the road.

Vasquez will be making his third major-league start after beginning his career with 141 relief appearances with Arizona. He didn't pitch all that badly in his first start at Kansas City, but lasted only three innings against Cleveland on Sunday, giving up four runs and walking five while throwing 32 of 68 pitches for strikes. He has twice as many walks (8) as strikeouts (4) in 8 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox DH Adam Dunn reported no improvement in the strained right oblique that has sidelined him for six games.

2. Twins C Joe Mauer missed the entire series against Kansas City due to back spasms.

3. Twins rookie RHP Cole De Vries is done for the season after an MRI exam on Thursday revealed he has a cracked rib.