Twins at White Sox
The Minnesota Twins can match their longest winning streak of the season when they go for a third straight victory against the struggling White Sox in Chicago on Sunday afternoon. Eddie Rosario homered, doubled and knocked in five runs as Minnesota rolled to an 8-4 victory Saturday that evened its record at 4-4 since a demoralizing eight-game losing streak last month.
Joe Mauer, who is the active leader in doubles (52) and walks (105) against the White Sox, extended his hitting streak to eight contests (10-for-31) for the Twins, while Rosario is 11-for-26 with three homers and 10 RBIs over his six-game run. Kyle Gibson will try to help Minnesota win its first series since beating Chicago in a weather-shortened one-game set April 12 and veteran James Shields takes the mound for the White Sox in Sunday’s finale. Chicago has dropped six of its last seven contests to fall a season-high 13 games under .500 at 9-22 after giving up 19 runs in the first three matchups during the series. Shortstop Tim Anderson belted two solo homers and scored three times, while slugger Jose Abreu knocked in his fifth run in four games Saturday for the White Sox.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (1-3, 5.35)
Gibson has struggled to go very deep into games and remains winless over his last five starts despite allowing two or fewer runs in three of them. The 30-year-old Indiana native yielded two runs on five hits and two walks across five innings with six strikeouts Tuesday in a no-decision against Toronto. Abreu (6-for-25) and Avisail Garcia each struggle (3-for-17) against Gibson, who is 6-2 with a 2.26 ERA in 10 career games versus the White Sox.
Shields has gone six games without a victory but limited opponents to one run in two of the five starts during that stretch. The 36-year-old California native permitted one run on two hits with no walks and four strikeouts over six innings of a no-decision Tuesday after losing his previous three outings. Brian Dozier is 12-for-36 with five doubles and four homers against Shields, who is 8-9 with a 4.32 ERA in 24 career contests versus the Twins.
WALK-OFFS
1. The White Sox placed 2B Yoan Moncada (hamstring) on the 10-day disabled list and INF Jose Rondon was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.
2. Minnesota recalled veteran C Bobby Wilson from Triple-A Rochester to replace C Jason Castro (knee), who was placed on the 10-day DL.
3. Chicago INF Yolmer Sanchez is 8-for-17 during a four-game hitting streak to raise his batting average to .295.