The game that decides it all... who goes home and who moves on into the playoffs.
Scouting Report:
Twins: Blackburn will take the hill for Tuesday's one-game tiebreaker in place of injured right-hander Kevin Slowey. Blackburn started the year 9-6 with a 3.60 ERA but he is 2-4 in his past nine starts with a 5.74 ERA. He's only gone more than five innings in four of those nine starts. However, he received the win in the Twins' 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday when he gave up two runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings. Blackburn is 2-2 with a 5.67 ERA in five starts against Chicago in 2008.
White Sox to Watch:
Jim Thome: 4-12 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs
AJ Pierzynski: 5-10 with a double and 2 RBIs
Joe Crede: 4-10 with a double, a HR, and a RBI
The Chicago roster is 37-116 (.319 BA) with 6 doubles, 4 HRs and 14 RBIs.
White Sox: Danks will be pitching on short rest, but he did not work very long on Friday against Cleveland, lasting four innings and allowing seven runs on seven hits. He threw 80 pitches in that game, which means he should still be relatively fresh come Tuesday. He's struggled since late August, posting a 4.91 ERA over his past seven starts. He earned a win in only one of those starts. Danks is 1-1 with a 7.91 in four starts against Minnesota this season.
I don't think Danks is the best choice, but the White Sox have to go with what is available. The Twins have a day off and will be refreshed, while the Sox are once against forced in a must win situation for the third straight day.
Twins to Watch:
Justin Morneau: 7-16 (.438 BA) with 2 doubles, 3 HRs, and 8 RBIs
Joe Mauer: 8-12 (.667 BA) with a RBI
Michael Cuddyer: 7-12 (.583 BA) with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs
Jason Kubel: 3-7 with a double, a HR and 6 RBIs
The Twins are 41-113 (.363 BA) with 8 doubles, 4 HRs, and 21 RBIs off Danks.
Forecast: My greatest concern is how tight a leash are the Sox going to have on Danks. I would hope that it is a very, very tight one. He doesn't have too much success on the Twins. This is a game today that will be defined on its coaching. Both teams are relatively hot... but I think that the Sox will win mainly on how well they play when they are hungry and the main intangible of better players, better coach. I am not a fan of Ozzie, by the way, but he does play a tough game. Score: 6-4, White Sox.
Home Plate
The game that decides it all... who goes home and who moves on into the playoffs.
Forecast: My greatest concern is how tight a leash are the Sox going to have on Danks. I would hope that it is a very, very tight one. He doesn't have too much success on the Twins. This is a game today that will be defined on its coaching. Both teams are relatively hot... but I think that the Sox will win mainly on how well they play when they are hungry and the main intangible of better players, better coach. I am not a fan of Ozzie, by the way, but he does play a tough game. Score: 6-4, White Sox.
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