Minnesota @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2010 ) Minnesota 9, Chi. White Sox 3

The Chicago White Sox entered their series with Minnesota needing a sweep to stay in contention in the Central Division. Instead, they’re on the verge of being swept by the red-hot Twins.

The Twins have all but clinched the division, opening an eight-game lead on the White Sox with 17 left to play. With the postseason all but assured, now they’ll set their sights on overtaking Tampa Bay for baseball’s best record as they tangle with Chicago in Thursday's series finale.

For all the talk of the powerful AL East Division, the Twins are a game behind the Rays (88-57) and a half-game behind the Yankees (88-58) for baseball’s best record. Minnesota has won 10 of 11 and is baseball’s hottest team since the All-Star break at 41-17.

Now they’ll turn to Carl Pavano, who is two wins shy of equaling his career high in victories. Pavano has lost four of his last five starts, but has really only pitched poorly in one of them. He pitched a complete game (eight innings) in his last start against Cleveland, but lost despite allowing two runs in eight innings.

Pavano, interestingly, has earned the decision in each of his last 12 starts and in all but two of his starts this season.

This series lined up exactly how Chicago wanted it, with its three best pitchers – John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle – each getting a start to try and crawl back in the race.

But Danks and Floyd have both struggled and the White Sox have failed in the clutch. Chicago is 4-of-24 with runners in scoring position, while Minnesota is 9-for-20.

A big reason for Minnesota’s clutch hitting in this series is Joe Mauer, who had three more hits Wednesday (including an inside-the-park home run). Mauer is hitting .455 with 15 RBIs this year against the Sox. Minnesota is 12-5 in the season series.

The White Sox banged out 12 hits on Wednesday, but managed just three runs. The Twins have won by identical 9-3 scores in the first two games of this series.

Chicago will try one more time to salvage its season with Buehrle, although at this point it might just be too late. Chicago has won each of his last three starts and is 16-5 since May 21 in games he starts.

He pitched five shutout innings against the Twins the last time he faced them on Aug. 19, but it’s difficult at this point to imagine the White Sox catching Minnesota. The Twins don’t play a team over .500 the rest of the season (the Blue Jays are .500 as of Thursday), while the White Sox still have to make another West Coast trip.