Minnesota Twins Will Look to Stay Hot in Chicago
By Brennen Rupp
The Minnesota Twins are fresh of a two-game series sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now they turn their sights to the Chicago White Sox. The Twins opened up the month of May with a four-game series sweep of the White Sox at Target Field.
The White Sox have gone 7-3 in their last ten games, but have lost their last two games. The Twins are 5-2 against the White Sox thus far this season. Excluding the Detroit Tigers, the Twins are 12-7 against the rest of the AL Central.
Phil Hughes will get the ball in the series opener against Jeff Samardzija. Hughes has won his last three starts and is 3-4 with a 4.76 earned run average.
Three Players to Watch
May 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman
Joe Mauer(7) is greeted by third baseman
Trevor Plouffe(24) after Mauer hit a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the thirteenth inning of an inter-league game at PNC Park. The Twins won 4-3 in thirteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
1. Joe “Power” Mauer hit the go-ahead home run in the 13th inning against the Pirates last night. His first home run of the season. Mauer is currently hitting .284 with 24 RBIs. His 24 RBIs is tied for the team lead with Torii Hunter. Mauer is hitting .308 against the White Sox this season.
2. Torii Hunter has been killing the ball in May. He is hitting .362 with five home runs and 17 RBIs this month. Hunter has enjoyed playing the White Sox during his career. This year has been no different, as he’s hitting .370 against them this season.
3. The White Sox have been good to Trevor Plouffe. This season he’s hitting .292 with two home runs and seven RBIs against them. The past three seasons against the White Sox he’s hit four home runs with 25 RBIs. Plouffe has reached safely in 15 of the 16 games he’s played in this month.
The White Sox will be looking to settle the score, after the Twins swept them the last time they faced each other. Phil Hughes can make sure that doesn’t happen by setting the tone for the series on Friday night. The last time the Twins left U.S. Cellular Field, they were a 1-6 team. They return six games above .500 with a 23-17 record.