Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 19, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 7

Justin Morneau finally hit a home run, and the Minnesota Twins are trending up. The Twins will be looking for a three-game sweep when they host the Chicago White Sox in the series finale on Thursday afternoon. Morneau had not homered since April 28 before going deep in Wednesday’s victory but has a pair of extra-base hits against the White Sox this week.

Wins in the first two games assured the Twins of being able to exit the series in fourth place in the American League Central, with Chicago sitting in the basement. The White Sox are now 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota and have dropped six of their last seven games overall. The pitching staff has surrendered 14 runs in the first two games against the Twins.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Fox Sports North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH John Danks (1-3, 4.50 ERA) vs. Twins LH Scott Diamond (4-6, 5.29)

Danks has been homer-prone since coming off the disabled list, yielding six home runs in 30 total innings over five turns. The veteran left-hander had two of his five hits allowed leave the yard at Houston on Saturday and ended up surrendering four runs in six innings to absorb the loss. Danks has struggled against Minnesota in his career, going 6-9 with a 5.00 ERA in 21 career starts.

Diamond has been ineffective in his last two starts, allowing a total of 11 runs - 10 earned - and 15 hits in 10 1/3 innings to suffer two losses. The left-hander has yielded four earned runs or more in five of his last seven outings. Diamond had one of his best starts of the season at Chicago on April 21, allowing two runs - one earned - on four hits in six innings to earn a win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Morneau is 11-for-35 (.314) with three home runs and 10 RBIs against Danks.

2. Chicago has lost 14 of its last 16 road games.

3. Minnesota signed first-round draft pick Kohl Stewart to a reported bonus of $4,544,400 on Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Twins 5, White Sox 4