Minnesota @ Chicago preview

Minnesota at Chi. White Sox

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 8

The Minnesota Twins may be heading nowhere fast, but they have won four of six overall and six of eight against the Chicago White Sox. The Twins look to continue their positive momentum on Friday when they open a four-game series against their American League Central rival with a day-night doubleheader. Minnesota is playing well but was unable to slow surging Kansas City, dropping the rubber match of the three-game series with a 5-2 setback on Wednesday.

The Twins reside 6 1/2 games ahead of the bottom-feeding White Sox, who rebounded from a 10-game losing skid by sweeping a three-game set against the New York Yankees. Alejandro De Aza's two-run triple in the 12th inning completed Chicago's second rally en route to a 6-5 triumph on Wednesday. De Aza is riding a seven-game hitting streak, but went 1-for-13 during Minnesota's three-game sweep of Chicago on June 18-20.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSNO (Minnesota), CSN-Plus (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (2-3, 6.69 ERA) vs. White Sox LH John Danks (2-9, 4.52)

Gibson struggled in his second consecutive start, yielding four runs on nine hits in three innings, but escaped with a no-decision versus Houston on Saturday. The 25-year-old, who has just one victory in his last six trips to the mound, has permitted five homers in his last 14 innings. Making his eighth start, Gibson has yet to face the White Sox in his young career.

Danks fell to 0-4 with a 4.69 ERA in his last six outings after allowing three solo homers over seven innings in a 3-0 setback to Detroit on Saturday. The 28-year-old, who last won on July 2, is 1-7 in his last 10 outings. One of those losses came at the hands of Minnesota, which torched Danks for six runs and a season-high 12 hits in five innings en route to an 8-4 triumph on June 20.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas claimed OF Alex Rios off waivers on Thursday, although MLB.com cited sources saying that a trade is unlikely. The 32-year-old Rios is riding a nine-game hitting streak with the White Sox, but his 12 homers and .277 batting average are well off the pace of last year's totals (25, .304).

2. Minnesota is expected to place C Ryan Doumit on the 7-day concussion list.

2. Chicago 1B Paul Konerko has hit safely in four straight games and eight of his last 10. Konerko is 11-for-24 in the season series versus the Twins.

PREDICTION: Twins 4, White Sox 2