White Sox at Twins
After winning the final four games of their 5-1 road trip, the Minnesota Twins were unable to carry the momentum into the opener of their six-game homestand. Minnesota looks to avoid back-to-back losses when it continues its three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
The Twins pounded out 15 hits on Monday but came out on the wrong side of a 6-4 decision and saw their lead over second-place Cleveland in the American League Central shrink to two games. Rookie Luis Arraez improved to 8-for-23 over his last five contests after recording his second three-hit performance in that span while Eddie Rosario also went 3-for-5 and drove in a run, giving him an RBI in five of his last six games. Minnesota welcomed back slugger Nelson Cruz, who returned from a wrist issue that landed him on the injured list to notch two hits and an RBI. Jose Abreu belted a three-run homer while Ryan Goins collected three hits and an RBI on Monday as the White Sox improved to 2-3 on their seven-game road trip.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago Plus, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (7-10, 5.29 ERA) vs. Twins RH Michael Pineda (8-5, 4.20)
Lopez's streak of solid starts ended at six on Thursday as he yielded five runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings in a road loss against the Los Angeles Angels. The 25-year-old Dominican allowed two runs or fewer in five of his previous six turns and just three in the other outing, going 3-1 in that span. Lopez fell to 1-2 with a 5.46 ERA in five career starts versus the Twins after being tagged for eight runs and seven hits - three homers - over 3 2/3 frames on May 24 at Minnesota.
Pineda returned from the injured list and recorded a victory at Texas on Thursday after giving up three runs and six hits in five innings. The 30-year-old Dominican has permitted more than three earned runs just once in his last 16 outings, posting a 6-3 record during that stretch. Two of those wins came on the road versus the White Sox, against whom Pineda allowed three runs over 13 frames to improve to 3-3 with a 3.08 ERA in six career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins SS Jorge Polanco has recorded three straight multi-hit performances, going 7-for-14 with a homer, five RBIs and five runs during the streak.
2. Abreu is three homers away from reaching 30 for the fourth time in his six major-league seasons.
3. Minnesota optioned RHP Zack Littell to Triple-A Rochester to make room on the roster for Cruz.