Michael Pineda, fast becoming the Twins' most reliable pitcher, takes the mound Tuesday night in Chicago in the opener of a three-game series against the White Sox.
Pineda has won five of his last six decisions and is coming off a seven-inning, one-run effort against the Pale Hose at Target Field.
The righthander is 9-5 in his first season with the Twins after missing all of 2018 after undergoing Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow.
The Twins signed Pineda to a two-year, $10 million free agent contract in 2017, knowing he would not be able to contribute for a year.
Starting Tuesday night for the Pale Hose is All-Star Lucas Giolito.
Last Wednesday, Giolito was dominant in a 4-0 complete-game shutout of the Twins at Target Field, allowing three hits and striking out 12.
The White Sox took two of three from the Twins last week.
After a 3-3 homestand, the Twins return to the road for a crucial 10-game stretch that includes a four-game series at Detroit and three against the World Champion Red Sox at Fenway Park.
That sets up what could be a pivotal weekend set against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field.
The Tribe trails the Twins by 3 1/2 games in the AL Central, two weeks after winning three of four in Minnesota and briefly moving into first place.
The Twins were out of the top spot for only a day, and have built up the lead while the Indians cooled off after a red-hot stretch that saw them wipe out an 11 1/2-game deficit.
Starting tonight, the Indians are in Detroit for three games, then move on to Tampa Bay before hosting the White Sox for four games.
BUXTON UPDATE
In his first rehab game on Sunday, Buxton was the Kernels' designated hitter and went 1-for-2 with a double, run scored, a walk, and a strikeout.