Davis Martin (8-1, 2.00) versus Connor Prielipp (1-3, 5.13) in Minneapolis, first pitch at 6:40 PM CT. Martin is tied with Gavin Williams for the AL lead in wins and just shoved against this same Twins lineup last Thursday — 6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits on 84 pitches. Prielipp, the Twins' top pitching prospect making his way through his rookie year, ran into that same White Sox lineup on May 27 and got tagged for 6 earned in 4.1.
The vibe coming in is funky for both sides. Chicago ripped off four straight before stumbling Monday night, when Tristan Gray slammed a grand slam and Joe Ryan punched out 9 to snap a five-game Twins skid. The Sox got two homers from Vargas in that one and still lost by three. Minnesota finally exhaled — and now has to do it again behind a rookie who's been shelled in 2 of his last 3.
The pitching matchup is the entire ballgame. Martin has a 0.99 WHIP and a 71:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 67.2 innings — he is, somehow, in the Cy Young conversation on the South Side. Prielipp's slider is a legitimate weapon (70-grade per the scouts), but until he commands the fastball the numbers are going to keep looking like that 5.13. The market agrees: Pinnacle has the Sox at -116 with a total parked at 7.5.
Both clubs are also patching holes. The Twins are without Bailey Ober (flexor strain, shut down 10-14 days), Pablo Lopez and David Festa long-term, and Ryan Jeffers had hamate surgery that'll cost him 6-8 weeks. Chicago is missing Munetaka Murakami, who stayed back in Chicago for a PRP injection on his hamstring, plus Austin Hays — pulled off his rehab assignment with a recurrence of calf soreness. The starting rotation has Noah Schultz, Ky Bush and Drew Thorpe all on the shelf, which is why Martin every fifth day feels load-bearing.
- Day-To-DayDerek Hill RF — Hill has been removed from Saturday's starting lineup versus Detroit due to upper-back tightness, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMunetaka Murakami 1B — White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday that Murakami (hamstring) stayed back in Chicago during the team's road trip and was given a platelet-rich plasma injection, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — Hays has been pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte due to a recurrence of left calf soreness, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira RF — Pereira (pectoral) resumed throwing Monday, MLB.com reports.
- bereavementTyler Gilbert RP — The White Sox recalled Gilbert from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.
- 15-Day-ILNoah Schultz SP — Schultz (2-4) took the loss against the Giants on Sunday, allowing six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one batter across four innings.
- 15-Day-ILJordan Hicks RP — Hicks was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain.
- Day-To-DayWalker Jenkins CF — Twins manager Jeremy Zoll said Saturday that Jenkins (shoulder) is "reporting improvements daily" and could begin light baseball activity in about a week, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
- Day-To-DayJulian Merryweather RP — Merryweather (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with the Twins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Theodore Tollefson of ZoneCoverage.com reports.
- Day-To-DayMatt Canterino SP — Canterino (shoulder) will be with the Twins in big-league spring training but isn't expected to pitch during camp as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILRyan Jeffers C — Jeffers needs surgery to remove a fractured left hamate bone and is expected to be sidelined 6-to-8 weeks, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILKendry Rojas RP — Rojas (elbow) could begin throwing as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
- 15-Day-ILBailey Ober SP — Ober has a mild flexor strain and will be shut down for 10-14 days, reports Dan Hayes of The Athletic
- 15-Day-ILCole Sands RP — Twins manager Derek Shelton said Monday that Sands (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Theodore Tollefson of Zone Coverage reports.
- 15-Day-ILMick Abel SP — Abel (elbow/triceps) resumed playing light catch Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.
Take Martin. He's beaten this team once this week already, and the Twins still haven't shown they can pick up his stuff. Prielipp will make hitters look silly with the slider here and there, but he's also walking 3 every five innings and giving up loud contact. Sox sneak this one, total stays under, and Chicago heads back to .500-and-then-some baseball — which, given the last few years, is genuinely surreal to type.