It’s a battle of AL Central foes on the diamond as they open a series on the south side of the Windy City. The Minnesota Twins are on the road as they make the trip to face the Chicago White Sox in the opening game of a three-game series Friday night. Minnesota missed a chance to sweep the Red Sox in a three-game set at home as they were upended 6-5 in the series finale Wednesday night. Chicago won the rubber game of their three-game home set with the Royals as they rolled to a 7-1 triumph Thursday afternoon. The Twins lead the season series by a 6-4 margin though the White Sox won three of four in the most recent series, which came at Target Field July 14-17.
Minnesota saw their five-game win streak come to an end as they were edged at home by Boston Wednesday night in their most recent contest. The Twins entered Thursday night second in the AL Central, 1.5 games behind the Guardians for the top spot in the division race. On Wednesday, Minnesota got two hits each from Max Kepler (run), Gio Urshela (run) and Nick Gordon (run, two RBI) yet fell short. Luis Arraez hit his eighth homer of the year in a losing effort for the Twins. Joe Ryan (10-7) took the loss as he allowed five runs on eight hits with one walk and eight strikeouts over five innings with the Red Sox getting all their runs in the third inning.
Sonny Gray takes the ball for his 21st start of the season for the Twins in this contest. On the season, he is 7-4 with a 3.04 ERA, a 1.113 WHIP, 32 walks and 99 strikeouts over 100.2 innings of work. Gray didn’t earn the decision in h is last start, which came against the Giants at home Sunday. He threw five frames, allowing one run on one hit with four walks and four strikeouts in a game the Twins went on to win 3-2 in 10 innings. In his last three starts, Gray is 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, six walks and 20 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Gray makes his 10th career appearance and 9th start against the White Sox in this contest. He comes in 4-2 with a 4.47 ERA, a 1.221 WHIP, 20 walks and 46 strikeouts over 48.1 innings of work. Gray is 2-1 with a 5.47 ERA, a 1.338 WHIP, 11 walks and 25 strikeouts over 24.2 innings in five career appearances, four starts, at Guaranteed Rate Field.