Minnesota @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2013 ) Minnesota 1, Chi. White Sox 12

The Chicago White Sox head into Tuesday’s contest against the Minnesota Twins needing four wins in their final 12 games to avoid 100 losses. They took a step in the right direction in Monday’s series opener by ending a six-game losing streak while setting a season high for runs scored in a 12-1 victory. After scoring a total of seven runs in their previous six games, the White Sox plated seven runs in the first inning against the Twins.

Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier was rested in the series opener after starting the previous 44 games. The 26-year-old ranks fourth among all second basemen in extra-base hits with 52, but he’s batting .204 in 14 games this month. White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn, who blasted his 438th career home run on Monday, has recorded eight of his 32 homers and 15 of his 83 RBIs this season against the Twins.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), CSN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (5-12, 5.31 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (7-6, 3.56)

Pelfrey’s struggles continued last Thursday against Oakland when he surrendered a season-high seven runs over three innings. The 29-year-old has thrown 142 1/3 innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, but the Twins do not plan to shut him down early. He’s 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox.

Quintana looks to build on his impressive outing last Wednesday, when he struck out six over seven shutout innings against the Tigers. The 24-year-old is winless in his last five starts, despite a 3.03 ERA over that stretch. Josh Willingham is 5-for-10 with two homers against Quintana, who is 1-2 with a 7.52 ERA in five career starts against Minnesota, including 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Quintana leads the majors with 17 no-decisions, most in a season in White Sox history.

2. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is four wins away from 1,000.

3. White Sox OF Avisail Garcia is expected back Tuesday after he missed two games due to the birth of his first child.

PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Twins 2