Chicago @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 5, Minnesota 2
Andrew Albers has certainly put his best foot forward to begin his major-league career. After scattering two hits in a complete-game gem to extend his scoreless streak to 17 1/3 innings, the 27-year-old left-hander looks for an encore on Saturday as the host Minnesota Twins continue their four-game series versus the Chicago White Sox. Joe Mauer belted his third homer in six contests, but the Twins stumbled to their fourth loss in 14 outings against their American League Central rival.
Jeff Keppinger and Adam Dunn homered on Friday as Chicago posted a 5-2 triumph to snap its season-high 10-game road losing skid. Keppinger was inserted into the lineup on Friday to give second baseman Gordon Beckham a breather as he deals with an aggravated strain in his right quadriceps. White Sox manager Robin Ventura said that Beckham will likely return for Saturday's tilt.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FSNO (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (8-11, 2.73 ERA) vs. Twins LH Andrew Albers (2-0, 0.00)
Sale answered a three-game losing streak with a pair of dominating efforts. After allowing one run in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees on Aug. 6, the 24-year-old ace pitched a complete game versus Detroit six days later - permitting two runs and striking out six. Sale fell to 3-1 in his career against Minnesota on June 19 after yielding four runs on eight hits in five innings.
Albers struck out two en route to handcuffing Cleveland in a 3-0 triumph on Monday - just six days removed from yielding four hits over 8 1/3 innings against Kansas City. The 27-year-old Saskatchewan native became the sixth pitcher in major-league history to throw at least eight shutout innings in each of his first two games. "I would pay to come and see him," Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan joked. "I'm not going to, but I would."
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago OF Dayan Viciedo made an immediate impact in his first start since Aug. 9. Viciedo, who had been sidelined with a sore left thumb, ripped a two-run single in his first at-bat on Friday.
2. Minnesota DH Ryan Doumit (concussion) returned from an eight-game absence and went 1-for-4 on Friday.
3. Mauer has struggled against Sale, going 4-for-14 with five strikeouts.
PREDICTION: White Sox 3, Twins 2