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| The Minnesota Twins attempt to make a move in the division against the Chicago White Sox |
Four games against the Chicago White Sox might help get them a bit closer. The Twins try to win an eighth consecutive game against the White Sox - and a seventh straight at U.S. Cellular Field - as they put Joe Mauer in an unfamiliar spot for Thursday night’s opener on Chicago’s South Side. Minnesota (38-47) has won 21 of 31 since owning baseball’s worst record by four games June 1, and it’s more than halved its 16 1/2-game division deficit. Still, it missed out on a chance to pull closer - and to sweep Tampa Bay - on Wednesday afternoon. With the score tied at 5 after seven innings, the Twins’ bullpen continued its recent struggles, yielding four runs in the eighth and three in the ninth in a 12-5 loss. Facing the White Sox (43-45) could be just what Minnesota’s pitching staff needs. The Twins have surrendered a total of 14 runs during their overall win streak against Chicago, with the bullpen sporting a sterling 0.68 ERA in 13 1-3 innings. Minnesota hasn’t won eight straight against the White Sox since a nine-game run Sept. 24, 2000-June 27, 2001. The relief corps was only needed for one inning during a two-game sweep of Chicago at Target Field last month. Carl Pavano (5-6, 4.19 ERA), who starts Thursday, went the distance in a 4-1 win June 15. Pavano is 6-2 with a 3.55 ERA and three complete games in eight starts against the White Sox since 2009. Thanks to the Twins’ bullpen, he lost out on a win Saturday against Milwaukee after allowing four runs over 7 2-3 innings and leaving with a three-run lead. But Matt Capps, who Ron Gardenhire has since temporarily removed as closer, gave up four ninth-inning runs in an 8-7 loss. That’s not the only change Gardenhire is making. Minnesota’s manager plans to play Mauer at first base on Thursday for the first time in the 2009 AL MVP’s career. “We won’t really know until we get him over there and see, but he honestly is pretty fluid over there,” Gardenhire said. “He’s got soft hands. He moves around there pretty well.” Keeping a .223 hitter in the lineup when he isn’t catching may not seem significant, but the White Sox would prefer to avoid him altogether. Mauer hit .451 with three homers and 15 RBIs in the rivals’ 18 meetings a year ago, and he’s a .361 lifetime hitter at U.S. Cellular. He’s never faced Philip Humber (8-4, 2.69), who has only made one relief appearance versus Minnesota. No opponent should be excited to see the right-hander these days. Humber won for the fifth time in six starts Saturday at Wrigley Field, limiting the Cubs to five hits over seven innings in a 1-0 victory. “He’s an All-Star for us,” pitching coach Don Cooper told the White Sox’s official website of Humber, who was left off the AL roster the following day. That win got the White Sox to .500 for the first time since April 16, but they’re now two games under after Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to Kansas City. Chicago was 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position, and is hitting .188 in those situations since June 15. “We cannot get the big hit,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. The White Sox are 6 for 57 with men on second or third during their skid against Minnesota. This is a series that the Twins know they have to win if they want to compete in the second half of the season. MLB Picks: Minnesota Twins Bet MLB all season long at BetPhoenix. This online sportsbook has the best odds and wagering opportunities in the MLB regular season all the way up to the World Series. 
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Even with one of baseball’s best records over the past five weeks, the Minnesota Twins still have plenty of work to do to get back into the AL Central race.
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