Preview: Twins (23-17) at White Sox (18-20)
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 22, 2015 8:10 PM EDT
The Minnesota Twins' turnaround can be traced to their series sweep of the Chicago White Sox three weeks ago.
The Twins look to continue rolling as they face the White Sox in the opener of this three-game set on the South Side on Friday night.
Minnesota (23-17) was three games under .500 before outscoring Chicago 31-8 and winning all four games from April 30-May 3. The Twins had five homers among their 50 hits, batted .347 and posted a 1.75 ERA.
That started Minnesota on a 14-5 stretch, moving it six games over .500 this late in a season for the first time since ending 2010 as AL Central champion.
Joe Mauer delivered the latest victory, hitting a solo homer in the 13th of a 4-3 win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He's 7 for 20 with five RBIs in five games after connecting for his first homer since Aug. 17, a span of 76 games.
"They can come in bunches, hopefully that's the case," Mauer said. "It was a matter of time before I got the first one under my belt. Took a little longer than it has before, but I'm glad it came when it did."
Phil Hughes (3-4, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound, and he's won three straight starts despite a 5.12 ERA after his first five ended in defeat for the Twins. The right-hander is also coming off his best outing of that stretch, yielding two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay last Friday.
"Everybody has to step up and do their job. You can't really afford to have guys that aren't pitching well in the rotation," Hughes said. "I knew I had to be better. Hopefully this puts me in a spot where I can continue to improve."
Hughes has a 4.50 ERA while losing three consecutive starts against the White Sox (18-20), and he's 0-3 with a 4.32 ERA over his last four in Chicago.
He didn't pitch in Minnesota's sweep of Chicago, but he allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-2 road loss April 12 as Minnesota dropped two of three at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago has lost a season-high three straight games at home after falling 5-2 to Cleveland on Thursday.
Turning to Jeff Samardzija (3-2, 4.58) could help since he's 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five career starts at U.S. Cellular - two as a visitor.
The right-hander has won his last two games there, yielding two runs in 13 innings. However, that came after he gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings while not figuring in the decision of a 5-4 win against Minnesota on April 11.
He's 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA in three career starts versus the Twins.
Samardzija was solid at Oakland on Sunday, yielding three runs and eight hits while throwing a season-high 120 pitches over eight innings of a 7-3 win.
"He's always been a high-pitch guy," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website. "I think as the game went along you're looking at him as just getting sharper. You understand he's been there. I think he thrives on it somewhat."
Jose Abreu has a .323 average during a 16-game hitting streak, the longest active run in the majors. While the stretch started with a single at Minnesota on May 3, he's 4 for 25 against the Twins this season after hitting .391 in 18 meetings last year.
Abreu is 6 for 13 with three doubles versus Hughes.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Twins at White Sox
Fri, May 22 - 8:10PM EDT
GAME 2
Twins at White Sox
Sat, May 23 - 4:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Twins at White Sox
Sun, May 24 - 2:10PM EDT
Game: 1
Venue: U.S. Cellular Field
Date: May 22, 2015 8:10 PM EDT
The Minnesota Twins' turnaround can be traced to their series sweep of the Chicago White Sox three weeks ago.
The Twins look to continue rolling as they face the White Sox in the opener of this three-game set on the South Side on Friday night.
Minnesota (23-17) was three games under .500 before outscoring Chicago 31-8 and winning all four games from April 30-May 3. The Twins had five homers among their 50 hits, batted .347 and posted a 1.75 ERA.
That started Minnesota on a 14-5 stretch, moving it six games over .500 this late in a season for the first time since ending 2010 as AL Central champion.
Joe Mauer delivered the latest victory, hitting a solo homer in the 13th of a 4-3 win at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He's 7 for 20 with five RBIs in five games after connecting for his first homer since Aug. 17, a span of 76 games.
"They can come in bunches, hopefully that's the case," Mauer said. "It was a matter of time before I got the first one under my belt. Took a little longer than it has before, but I'm glad it came when it did."
Phil Hughes (3-4, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound, and he's won three straight starts despite a 5.12 ERA after his first five ended in defeat for the Twins. The right-hander is also coming off his best outing of that stretch, yielding two runs in seven innings of a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay last Friday.
"Everybody has to step up and do their job. You can't really afford to have guys that aren't pitching well in the rotation," Hughes said. "I knew I had to be better. Hopefully this puts me in a spot where I can continue to improve."
Hughes has a 4.50 ERA while losing three consecutive starts against the White Sox (18-20), and he's 0-3 with a 4.32 ERA over his last four in Chicago.
He didn't pitch in Minnesota's sweep of Chicago, but he allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings of a 6-2 road loss April 12 as Minnesota dropped two of three at U.S. Cellular Field.
Chicago has lost a season-high three straight games at home after falling 5-2 to Cleveland on Thursday.
Turning to Jeff Samardzija (3-2, 4.58) could help since he's 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in five career starts at U.S. Cellular - two as a visitor.
The right-hander has won his last two games there, yielding two runs in 13 innings. However, that came after he gave up four runs and eight hits in seven innings while not figuring in the decision of a 5-4 win against Minnesota on April 11.
He's 1-1 with a 7.56 ERA in three career starts versus the Twins.
Samardzija was solid at Oakland on Sunday, yielding three runs and eight hits while throwing a season-high 120 pitches over eight innings of a 7-3 win.
"He's always been a high-pitch guy," manager Robin Ventura told MLB's official website. "I think as the game went along you're looking at him as just getting sharper. You understand he's been there. I think he thrives on it somewhat."
Jose Abreu has a .323 average during a 16-game hitting streak, the longest active run in the majors. While the stretch started with a single at Minnesota on May 3, he's 4 for 25 against the Twins this season after hitting .391 in 18 meetings last year.
Abreu is 6 for 13 with three doubles versus Hughes.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Twins at White Sox
Fri, May 22 - 8:10PM EDT
GAME 2
Twins at White Sox
Sat, May 23 - 4:10PM EDT
GAME 3
Twins at White Sox
Sun, May 24 - 2:10PM EDT