The Twins are back home after salvaging a win in Wednesday's game at the New York Mets. They dropped the first two against New York and come home in third place in the AL Central. They're now a half game behind resurgent Kansas City and six and a half behind first place Cleveland.
The good news for the Twins is they host the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, easily the worst team in baseball this year, and in the running for one of the worst MLB teams in many years. For Minnesota, they're hoping to make up some ground with the Sox in town. Chicago has lost 17 straight.
Chicago is the third team in MLB history to lose 84 or more games in the first 111 games of a season. Worse for the Sox? They're somehow 0-53 when trailing after six innings this year.
The Twins, meanwhile, are coming off a 3-3 road trip to Detroit and New York and have been kind of stuck in neutral since the All-Star Break. They've gone 5-6 since the break and just haven't been able to make up any ground on first place Cleveland.
After the series with the Sox, the Twins head to Chicago to take on the Cubs for three at Wrigley before a massive, potentially season-altering four game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field. But first, they need to take care of business against the White Sox who's last win on July 10th was against the Twins.
TV IS BACK
Also good news for the Twins? Games are back on television for the majority of cable TV subscribers in the Twin Cities after Comcast and Bally Sports owner Diamond Sports settled their carriage agreement, ending a three-month long blackout for Xfinity subscribers. Friday night's game will be the first one on the Comcast systems since a blackout began May 3.
Twins President Dave St. Peter says they're grateful for fans' patience.
"I'm grateful, I'm really, you know, glad that more fans will be able to watch this exciting Twins team." St. Peter told the WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar. "We have work to do to make it even better for them going forward. From a Twins perspective, we're excited that Bally Sports North is back on television for most of the Comcast subscribers immediately, and we're hopeful others will sign up."
Of course you can always catch the Twins on the radio right here on 830 WCCO or streaming online via the Audacy App (in-market only).
PREVIEW
Chicago White Sox (27-84, fifth in the AL Central) vs. Minnesota Twins (59-48, third in the AL Central)
Minneapolis; Friday, 7:10 p.m. 6:30 p.m. pregame on WCCO Radio and the Audacy app.
PITCHING PROBABLES: White Sox: Davis Martin (0-0, 3.37 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, three strikeouts); Twins: Joe Ryan (6-7, 3.62 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 138 strikeouts)
Saturday: Crochet (White Sox) vs. Ober (Twins)
Sunday: Flexen (White Sox) vs. Woods Richardson (Twins)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Twins -303, White Sox +242; over/under is 8 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago White Sox, on a 17-game losing streak, play the Minnesota Twins.
Minnesota has gone 29-21 at home and 59-48 overall. Twins hitters are batting a collective .252, which ranks fourth in the AL.
Chicago has a 27-84 record overall and a 10-44 record in road games. The White Sox have a 9-14 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.
Friday’s game is the 11th time these teams meet this season. The Twins are ahead 9-1 in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jose Miranda has 21 doubles, a triple and nine home runs for the Twins. Byron Buxton is 10-for-39 with two doubles and four home runs over the last 10 games.
Andrew Vaughn has 13 home runs, 25 walks and 48 RBI while hitting .232 for the White Sox. Andrew Benintendi is 7-for-34 with three doubles, a home run and four RBI over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Twins: 5-5, .247 batting average, 4.76 ERA, outscored by two runs
White Sox: 0-10, .205 batting average, 6.19 ERA, outscored by 38 runs
INJURIES: Twins: Brock Stewart: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Kirilloff: 60-Day IL (back), Kody Funderburk: 15-Day IL (oblique), Carlos Correa: 10-Day IL (foot), Chris Paddack: 15-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Farmer: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Topa: 60-Day IL (knee), Daniel Duarte: 60-Day IL (tricep), Anthony DeSclafani: 60-Day IL (elbow)
White Sox: Max Stassi: 60-Day IL (hip), Jordan Leasure: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Mike Soroka: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Dominic Leone: 60-Day IL (right elbow), Mike Clevinger: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yoan Moncada: 60-Day IL (abductor), Jimmy Lambert: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Matt Foster: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jesse Scholtens: 60-Day IL (elbow)
The Associated Press contributed to this story.