After a series split with their first AL East opponent the Toronto Blue Jays the White Sox will look to get back on track versus their AL Central rivals, the Minnesota Twins. The Twins haven’t been good the last couple of years and should not expect to compete this year either. Despite the Twins being up on the White Sox a half game in the division, their pitching is young and unstable, and their hitters lack consistency. The Sox on the other hand seem to be getting consistency from their starting staff and they also know what they are going to get from their offense. Here are the pitching match-ups as the White Sox attempt to ruin Joe Mauer’s birthday weekend.
The opener of the series will feature Twins “ace,” Vance Worley against Sox two starter, Jake Peavy. Worley has been a mystery thus far; in three starts, he is 0-2 with an earned runs average above ten. This is really disconcerting if you are Twins general manager Terry Ryan, considering he acquired Worley after his massive success in the National League and to be one of the lone consistent producers for the Twins’ starting staff in 2013. This game will be key to see if Worley can get back on track versus a relatively passive Sox offense. Peavy on the other hand will be expected to pitch like his usual self and keep the White Sox in the game. That is what he has always done, and hopefully what he will continue to do.
Friday April 19th, 2013 @ US Cellular Field 7:10
Vance Worley 0-2, 10.50 ERA v. Jake Peavy 2-1, 3.93 ERA
The second game of the series should be a good one if both pitchers pitch how they are supposed to, however if they both continue their trends of this season, it should be a slugfest. Twins’ starter Scott Diamond burst onto the baseball scene last year as he became the lone bright spot on a dismal 2012 season for the Twins. This year is a different story for the Canadian left-hander as he has pitched to 8.31 ERA. However, Diamond likes to think of the White Sox as a huge rival and will most likely pitch with extra conviction in this game. Gavin Floyd will be the starter for the Sox and is another mystery as the team never knows which Gavin they will get. Will they get the guy who pitches like an undisputed ace or will they get the guy who looks like a deer in headlights? No one is ever sure.
Saturday April 20th, 2013 2:05 pm
Scott Diamond 0-1, 8.31 ERA v. Gavin Floyd 0-2, 6.32
The potential rubber match of the series will feature two pitchers who have outperformed expectations this year. Kevin Correia of the Twins was signed this offseason to essentially be a stopgap until prospects Alex Meyer and Trevor May can arrive as reinforcements. However he has pitched very well thus far, and there is no reason to believe that he can’t shutdown the White Sox as he has never faced the White Sox and the Sox typically don’t fare well when they face an opposing pitcher for the first time. Dylan Axelrod will toe the rubber for the Sox and he has been a pleasant surprise this year as he has filled in for John Danks. Axelrod’s last start versus Toronto saw him pitch six innings and only allow two runs, which is more than what the Sox expected from him against such an excellent offense.
Sunday April 21st, 2013 1:10 pm
Kevin Correia 1-1, 2.95 ERA v. Dylan Axelrod 0-1, 4.70 ERA
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