White Sox at Twins
The red-hot Minnesota Twins put a pair of winning streaks on the line and aim for their second straight series sweep when they finish a three-game set with the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The Twins have taken the first two contests in the series by a combined score of 19-5 to stretch their current winning streak to five and their run against the White Sox to six in a row stretching to last season.
Shortstop Ehire Adrianza had a three-run homer and an RBI single to back a solid seven innings by Kyle Gibson in Minnesota's 8-1 triumph Saturday afternoon. First baseman C.J. Cron also had four RBIs for the Twins, who recorded 10 hits after entering the day's action leading the majors in runs, homers, total bases, extra-base hits and slugging percentage. Dylan Covey will be tasked with trying to slow down the game's best offense when he gets the start in the series finale for the White Sox. Jake Odorizzi gets the nod for the hosts and will face a Chicago lineup that has scored four or fewer runs in 10 of its last 11 games.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Chicago, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Covey (0-3, 5.31 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (6-2, 2.38)
Covey gave up four runs in four innings in a loss at Houston on Tuesday. Opponents are batting just .211 against the 27-year-old, but he has walked 16 men while striking out just seven in his 20 1/3 innings this year. Max Kepler is 3-for-6 with a home run and two doubles against Covey, who is 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA in four games (two starts) versus Minnesota.
Odorizzi has held his opponents scoreless in four of his last five starts, including a five-inning effort in a win at the Los Angeles Angels his last time out. He has allowed 19 hits in 30 1/3 innings during that span while extending his personal winning streak to six in a row. The former first-round pick owns a 3.41 ERA in six career starts against the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cron has 11 RBIs over his last eight games.
2. White Sox SS Tim Anderson was a late scratch Saturday due to a sore wrist and C Welington Castillo was placed in the 7-day concussion protocol.
3. Minnesota has at least 10 hits in five straight games and 11 of its last 14.