They really should win this one…right?
First Pitch: 6:40 PM CDT
TV: Bally Sports North, FS1 (National)
Radio: TIBN
Know Thine Enemy: South Side Sox| Twinkie Town Series Preview
The Minnesota Twins have lost six out of their last seven games. They’re already eight games back of the first-place Cleveland Guardians — and four games behind the third-place Detroit Tigers.
Thank goodness for the Chicago White Sox.
The South Siders are a horrific 3-18 on the season. Their three wins include a pair of one-run victories and a two-run win; their run differential is already -71. Improbably, among their 18 losses, only eight have come by two or fewer runs. They’re losing, and they’re losing big.
That said, the Twins didn’t exactly have an inspiring week of games, getting swept in Baltimore and losing three of four at home against Detroit over the last week.
The White Sox will send Jonathan Cannon to the mound for his second career start. He was good the first time out, throwing five innings of one-run ball against Kansas City in his debut. In two starts at Triple-A Charlotte this year, Cannon had a 3.72 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 9 2⁄3 innings. Last year, however, he pitched to the tune of a 4.46 ERA in 25 starts across High-A and Double-A, including a 5.77 ERA in 48 1⁄3 Double-A innings.
If there’s ever a time for the Twins hitters to get back on track, it’s now.
Chris Paddock will climb the hill for the Twins. While he wasn’t the version of himself that we were all led to believe we’d be enjoying based on the flowery language that Dusty Baker and others used to describe his brief playoff performance in October, Paddock was solid in his first two starts. Last time out against the Orioles, however, he got blown up, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits in Baltimore while striking out just two batters over 5 1⁄3 innings.
The Twins haven’t been good at the plate or on the mound through the first 20 games. There are a lot of things that need to change. Facing off against the league’s worst team is the perfect time to begin righting the ship.
Enjoy Monday night baseball!