Twins at White Sox
A 10-game road trip the will carry into the final month of the season is a formidable test for any title contender, but the Minnesota Twins are showing no signs of easing up away from home. The American League Central-leading Twins will take a five-game road winning streak into the second of a three-game set at the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Minnesota received solo home runs from Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Schoop to boost its major league-leading total to 255 in Tuesday's 3-1 series opening win. Nelson Cruz collected two hits to improve to 9-for-18 against the White Sox over the past nine days as the Twins maintained a 3 1/2-game edge over Cleveland. The Twins lost two of three to the White Sox last week but Tuesday's victory lifted their road record to 41-22 - one behind Tampa Bay for the most wins in the majors. Tim Anderson has hit safely in 12 of 13 games for Chicago, which has scored only three runs in its last three contests.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS North (Minnesota), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (13-6, 3.57 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Ross Detwiler (2-3, 5.51)
Odorizzi lost for the second time since the All-Star break last time out, giving up four runs (three earned) and eight hits over five innings against the White Sox. The loss ended a four-start unbeaten streak for the 29-year-old, who had permitted a combined five runs during that span and blanked Chicago with 5 1/3 innings of one-hit ball on May 26. Jose Abreu is 7-for-20 against Odorizzi, who has not pitched in one week and owns a 5-0 record and 1.00 ERA with extra rest.
Detwiler won for the first time since June 28 versus Minnesota last Thursday with his finest outing of the year, striking out a season-high eight batters and permitting one run on three hits over six innings to beat Texas. The lone run scored came on a home run - the 10th the 33-year-old has yielded over his last seven appearances and the 15th he has allowed over just 47 1/3 innings. Detwiler has been tormented by Cruz, who is 5-for-7 with three homers, a double, a triple and five RBIs against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Gonzalez exited Tuesday's game due to an abdominal issue.
2. Anderson is 9-for-20 with a pair of homers and three doubles in five games against Minnesota this season.
3. The Twins shut down CF Byron Buxton's rehab assignment due to shoulder soreness, although an MRI exam was negative.