Twins at White Sox
Two teams hoping to stay in the mix in the wide-open American League Central will face off for the first time this season when the Chicago White Sox host the Minnesota Twins for a three-game series, beginning Friday. The White Sox have won four straight and seven of eight against the Twins, and they won 14 of 18 in last year's season series.
The White Sox were held to a season-low four hits in Thursday's 3-1 loss at Toronto, settling for a split in the four-game series with the Blue Jays. Chicago won its first two series of the season but has not won one since. The Twins had a rare two days off thanks to a rainout Wednesday and no scheduled game on Thursday. They limped into the series with the Los Angeles Angels on a five-game losing streak, but took both contests from the struggling Angels.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), CSN Plus (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Vance Worley (0-2, 10.50 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Jake Peavy (2-1, 3.93)
Worley's tenure with the Twins is off to a rocky start, and he is coming off the worst outing of his career against the Mets. He recorded only three outs and allowed nine runs (seven earned) in the shortest start of his career. Worley has never faced the White Sox.
Peavy is coming off a dominant performance against Cleveland in which he struck out 11 and allowed one run over seven innings. The veteran has compiled 24 strikeouts and only one walk through his first three starts. Peavy is 6-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 11 starts against the Twins He won four of five starts against them last season and posted quality starts in all five outings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Peavy has racked up double-digit strikeouts 32 times in his career.
2. Twins C Joe Mauer is the only player on the roster who has hit a home run off Peavy, a former National League Cy Young Award winner.
3. Jeff Keppinger is the only White Sox player who has faced Worley. He is 1-for-6 with a walk against the former Phillies right-hander.