The Minnesota Twins (40-55) and Chicago White Sox (50-45) will open up a three-game American League Central series on Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 ET

Minnesota Twins at Chicago White Sox

Minnesota picked up its first series win since the beginning of the month, taking two of three from the Kansas City Royals to open up its six-game road trip against divisional foes.  The Twins will now look to carry over their recent success in this series, but have lost eight of 10 meetings at this ballpark.  Catcher Joe Mauer is the player to watch offensively, going 18-for-42 (.429) with three home runs and eight RBIs in his career against Monday’s opposing starter.  Minnesota is 2-5 in its last seven games as a road underdog.

Twins starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (3-9, 4.81 ERA) has suffered back-to-back losses, including a 2-1 setback to the Baltimore Orioles at home, allowing six runs (five earned) and eight hits over 14 combined innings.  The left-hander is 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 10 road outings (seven starts), issuing 24 walks and striking out 38 batters in 38.2 frames.  In 14 career games (10 starts) versus the White Sox, Liriano has garnered a 5-3 record and 4.26 ERA, including a 4-1 home win on June 25.

Chicago suffered its first sweep of at least three games during the 2012 campaign and is now 1.5 games back of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central race.  “Hopefully, we’ll get it out of our system, start playing good,” stated White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn.  The White Sox middle-of-the-lineup (2-4 hitters) combined to go 5-for-35 (.143) with just a single RBI in the three-game set against the Tigers.  Chicago is 5-2 in its last seven games against left-handed starters.

White Sox starting pitcher Gavin Floyd (7-8, 4.54 ERA) has won three of his last four starts, including a 2-0 home win over the Toronto Blue Jays, surrendering just four hits over 7.2 innings.  The right-hander is 6-3 with a 4.35 ERA in 10 home outings, issuing 17 walks and striking out 55 batters in 60 frames.  In 17 career games versus the Twins, Floyd has compiled a dismal 5-11 record and 5.87 ERA, but walked away with a 3-2 road win on June 26 in the series.

Sports bettors will likely back the Twins due to their 7-0 mark in Liriano’s last seven efforts in this series, while the White Sox are 1-8 in Floyd’s last nine opportunities agains the Twins.

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