Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 5, Minnesota 3
Facing the Minnesota Twins has been a cure-all this season for the Chicago White Sox - and particularly for right-hander Jake Peavy. The American League Central-leading White Sox hope to see that trend continue on Sunday when they try to wrap up a three-game sweep at Target Field. Chicago, which is clinging to a one-game lead over Detroit, will host the Tigers in a makeup game on Monday afternoon.
The White Sox have won 13 of 17 meetings with the Twins this season. Pitching has been the key to the first two games of the current series, as Chicago shut out Minnesota on four hits Friday and gave up just two hits in a 5-3 win Saturday. Peavy will look to continue that trend by keeping up his dominance over Minnesota. He is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season and his last three wins have come at their expense.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, Fox Sports North
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Jake Peavy (10-11, 3.27 ERA) vs. Twins LH Scott Diamond (11-7, 3.46)
Peavy already has matched his highest win total since his Cy Young Award season of 2007, but he has just one win in his last seven starts. He took the loss Tuesday against Detroit, racking up nine strikeouts but allowing three runs - on a pair of homers - in 5 2/3 innings. Peavy is 5-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 10 career starts against Minnesota.
Diamond has been the Twins' most consistent starter, but he has struggled to get results lately, winning just one of his last six starts. He has allowed at least four runs in each of his last three outings, though he still managed to beat the White Sox on Sept. 4 despite giving up four runs in five innings. Diamond is 2-3 with a 4.30 ERA in five starts against Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox slugger Adam Dunn returned to the lineup Saturday and went 2-for-3 and scored a run after missing seven games with a strained right oblique.
2. Twins C Joe Mauer has missed five straight games with back spasms.
3. White Sox 3B Gordon Beckham is 8-for-20 (.400) during a six-game hitting streak. Beckham is 0-for-8 against Diamond.