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Brief Overview:
These two clubs met a week ago, and they’ll meet again three weeks from now. Because the Twins were light on AL Central opponents to kick off the year, they’re going to see plenty of familiar faces during the final month of the season. Chicago is the cream of the bad crop in the division, and while they do own a 60-70 record, the -114 run differential still suggests they’re playing a bit above their heads.
What They Do Well:
Without rehashing much of what we already know about this club, we can look at what they did well against Minnesota at Target Field last week. Ivan Nova has been rolling of late and last week danced around 10 hits allowing just two runs. Stealing that game-one matchup put the Twins up against a wall needing to beat Lucas Giolito in the rubber match. The White Sox ace continued his breakout year and turning in a complete-game shutout allowing just three hits, that train continued rolling down the tracks.
Eloy Jimenez, Jose Abreu, and Yoan Moncada remain as fearsome of a trio as it gets. Moncada will be back for this series and that provides new challenges for the Minnesota staff. Although this lineup isn’t good by any means, they have the bats to do damage against poor performances. The fielding won’t carry them either but pitching performances can keep them competitive.
What They Do Not Do Well:
If there’s a blueprint for the Twins to take against the White Sox, it’s game two of last week’s series. Minnesota pounded out 14 runs on 14 hits en route to a 10-run laugher. Reynaldo Lopez didn’t miss bats and Minnesota blew the doors off the bullpen. There’re plenty of poor arms waiting behind the wall for Chicago, and Minnesota needs to get to them. Giolito will put up a tough test to start the series, but both Ross Detwiler and Dylan Cease are more than capable of coughing up runs in bunches.
The Twins must set the tone in this matchup and really start to create some distance between the two clubs in the season series. Chicago put a feather in their cap last week on the road and now Minnesota must return the favor.
Individuals Of Note:
Twins fans have seen plenty of Jose Abreu this season, and Twins pitchers have been haunted by him. Eloy Jimenez is still as dangerous a bat as it gets, and Tim Anderson has enjoyed a breakout season at shortstop. We aren’t yet into Luis Robert territory but that could soon be coming. One guy that wasn’t around last week though was Yoan Moncada.
Returning from the IL on August 22nd after being down since July 30, he tallied two hits in his first two games against the Rangers before going 0-for-7 to cap off the four-game set. Moncada is a legit bat and his .901 OPS is nothing to be taken lightly. His return to the Chicago lineup is a big boost for Rick Renteria’s club.
Recent History:
Minnesota just dropped two of three to Chicago last week at Target Field. On the year the Twins own an 8-5 advantage with a +45 run differential. The dominance in victories is there, but the win-loss record should be a bit more lopsided than it currently is.
Recent Trajectories:
The Twins are 7-3 over their past 10 games and Chicago is 6-4. When playing different opponents, Minnesota is 6-1, with the White Sox being 4-3.
Pitching Match-ups:
Tuesday: Pineda vs Giolito
Wednesday: Odorizzi vs Detwiler
Thursday: Berrios vs Cease
Ending Thoughts:
Chicago continues to gain steam as an up-and-coming team. They aren’t there yet, and while not a dumpster fire, this still is not a good big-league club. Minnesota had no business dropping the series last week at home, and they’ll need to exact immediate revenge on the road over the next three contests. Cleveland gets a hapless Tigers club in the same time span and keeping the lead where it is should be a must. Sweeps are tough in baseball, and Giolito is going to be a difficult foe in game one. The Twins also need to see Jose Berrios return to form, though it is his final turn in a month that gives him fits. Give me Minnesota taking two-of-three and finishing August riding high.
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