Preview: Twins at White Sox (Game 1)

[September 13, 2014]  Thanks to Mother Nature, the Minnesota Twins find themselves playing their second doubleheader in three days when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Minnesota dropped both games of a twinbill in Cleveland on Thursday after the previous day's contest was rained out. Friday's series opener against Chicago also was washed away, setting up a pair of games at U.S. Cellular Field on Saturday. The Twins scored a total of two runs in Thursday's doubleheader and have dropped six of their last seven overall contests.

Chicago looks to continue its momentum after taking three of four from Oakland during the week. Each of the victories in the series was by one run, including a 1-0 triumph on Thursday in which Chris Sale outdueled Scott Kazmir by limiting the sinking Athletics to two hits over eight innings. Marcus Semien's homer was all the support provided by Chicago, which has scored fewer than three runs in six of its last seven contests.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), CSN Plus Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Phil Hughes (15-9, 3.55 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (7-10, 3.38)

Hughes won five of six starts before settling for a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels last Saturday, when he allowed three runs and seven hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings. The 28-year-old has a chance to match his career high of 18 wins set in 2010 with the New York Yankees, as he figures to make three more starts over the remainder of Minnesota's 16-game schedule. Hughes fell to 4-3 lifetime against Chicago on July 24 as he yielded two runs over three innings before exiting with a bruised shin.

Quintana also settled for a no-decision last Saturday despite giving up just one run and seven hits over six innings at Cleveland. The 25-year-old Colombian has allowed a total of three runs over 13 frames in his last two starts after surrendering at least four in each of his previous four outings. Quintana's career record against Minnesota remained at 2-2 as he allowed just an unearned run in five innings versus the Twins on Aug. 3 before five relievers were pounded for 15 runs over the final four frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. The White Sox went 2-4 in the last six games in which they scored fewer than three runs.

2. The Twins have gone 0-6-2 in their last eight series.

3. Chicago split a two-game series in Minnesota to start the month.

PREDICTION: Twins 5, White Sox 3

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