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Minnesota Twins need to pad the win column this weekend against the White Sox

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 30: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of the game on April 30, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Blue Jays defeated the Twins 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 30: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Toronto Blue Jays during the eighth inning of the game on April 30, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Blue Jays defeated the Twins 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Twins have struggled after a strong start to 2018. This weekend’s series provides an opportunity to add some much needed wins to their record.

The Minnesota Twins have a 4-game weekend series ahead of them starting Thursday night. This weekend is a series that the Twins need to win and bring themselves closer to a .500 record. Wins will prevent the Cleveland Indians and the rest of the American League from getting too far away from them in the standings.

The Twins have struggled after what was a good 8-5 start. A start in which the Twins were able to be in first place even after facing the likes of Justin Verlander, Corey Kluber, Dallas Keuchel and some other heavy hitting starting pitchers. Then the bottom seemed to fall out from underneath them as the starters couldn’t find any success, the bullpen was tired, overworked, and underperforming, and what should be a good offense went cold.

The team showed some life against the Toronto Blue Jays even as the Jays took two out of three in the series. The Chicago White Sox will hopefully be the perfect remedy for the Twins. Even as they continue to miss young stars Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton from the lineup.

Here is what the pitching matchups look like for the series

Projected Starters:

May 3rd: Jake Odorizzi (2-2, 3.94 ERA) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 1.78 ERA)

May 4th: Jose Berrios (2-3, 3.63 ERA) vs. Carson Fulmer (2-1, 4.32 ERA)

May 5th: Lance Lynn (0-3, 8.37 ERA) vs. TBD

May 6th: Kyle Gibson (1-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. James Shields (1-3, 5.35 ERA)

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The White Sox starters are nothing to be afraid of. Even Lopez who has a good 1.78 ERA can be exploited. His ERA seems a bit misleading to his performance as his FIP is a 4.47 on the season.

The rebuilding White Sox lineup hasn’t had all the results their fans would hope but it still packs plenty of players that Twins pitchers will need to respect. Jose Abreu is one that could always be sitting on a big game and has a season line of .264/.336/.481, five doubles, and six home runs. The young second baseman Yoan Moncada is another player to keep an eye on as he has hit .268/.359/.518, eight doubles, a triple, and six home runs.

With only 3 hits over the past 35 at-bats, the Twins need Brian Dozier desperately at this time. Hopefully, the White Sox starters can be a cure to end that streak and start another hitting streak. Logan Morrison seems to be turning the corner. He continues to hit the ball with authority and has a .286 average since his first home run last week against the Cincinnati Reds. Max Kepler and Eduardo Escobar have been carrying a lot of the offensive weight and they need others to join in with them.

Next: Lance Lynn has been a disaster

If the Twins bullpen and starters can continue trending in the right direction, this should be a good series for the Twins that increases the number in the win column. If the Twins squander away this opportunity, many will (maybe rightfully) be calling this a failed season even though it is only May.

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