Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 4, Minnesota 12

The Minnesota Twins may not be able to take much away from their second losing season in three years, but their solid play at home since late June can be one area they will remember fondly. Coming off a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago White Sox, the Twins seek a season-best fifth consecutive victory Saturday when they host the third of four games against their American League Central rival.

Jose Berrios became the first Minnesota pitcher in eight years to reach 200 strikeouts en route to a 2-1 victory in Friday's series opener, while rookie Mitch Garver returned to the starting lineup after a two-week absence due to a concussion and went 4-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs during a 12-4 rout in the nightcap. Minnesota improved to 4-1 on its season-ending seven-game homestand and moved to 47-32 at Target Field, including a 28-12 mark at the venue since June 24. Chicago (62-98), which has dropped six of its last seven to fall to 8-17 in September, needs one more win this weekend to avoid recording the fourth 100-loss season in club history. The White Sox are averaging a meager 3.3 runs this month.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS North (Minnesota)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (6-7, 3.61 ERA) vs. Twins RH Kyle Gibson (9-13, 3.68)

After posting a combined 5-0 record and 1.84 ERA across July and August, Rodon fell to 0-4 with a 6.84 mark in September following Sunday's loss to the Chicago Cubs in which he gave up a season-high six runs over a season-low 2 1/3 innings. The North Carolina State product has surrendered at least four runs in four of his five starts this month while recording a 1.82 WHIP. Jorge Polanco is 4-for-11 with a homer versus Rodon, who beat Minnesota with six innings of two-run ball on Aug. 22.

Gibson has won consecutive starts since dropping each of his previous four and is coming off a strong showing Sunday in Oakland, yielding one run across 7 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old improved to 2-2 with a 3.04 ERA in four September outings as a result, although he issued three walks to increase his season total to 76 - the third-highest total in the AL. Tim Anderson is 5-for-15 with a home run versus Gibson, who is 0-2 with a 5.89 ERA in three starts against the White Sox this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Twins' 47 home wins are their most in a season since posting 53 in 2010.

2. The White Sox struck out 19 times during the doubleheader, raising their season total to a major league-high 1,570 - one shy of the all-time record set last year by Milwaukee.

3. Minnesota OF Robbie Grossman went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and two walks during the doubleheader and has three two-hit efforts over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Twins 7, White Sox 3