The Chicago White Sox need someone to help them bounce back from a series-opening loss.
Their best pitcher is ready to give it his best shot.
White Sox right-hander Davis Martin will take the mound against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday evening in the second contest of a three-game series in Minneapolis.
The Twins won 9-6 in the series opener Monday. Tristan Gray hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and finished with five RBIs in the victory, which snapped the Twins’ five-game losing streak and the White Sox’s five-game winning streak.
Now, Martin (8-1, 2.00 ERA) will look to pull the White Sox even in the series. He is set to make his 12th start and will try to build on his American League high-tying victory total.
Martin has won his past three starts — against the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants and, most recently, Minnesota. He has not lost since April 10, a game in which he yielded just two runs in seven innings vs. the Kansas City Royals.
This will be his second matchup in less than a week against the Twins. On Thursday, he held them to one run on two hits in six innings, walked two and struck out five as Chicago won 6-2.
In seven career games (six starts) against the Twins, Martin is 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA.
Minnesota will counter with left-hander Connor Prielipp (1-3, 5.13 ERA), who will make the eighth start of his rookie campaign. He has 35 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.
Last Wednesday, Prielipp faced the White Sox for the first time in his brief career. He took the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. He also struck out five in Minnesota’s 15-2 defeat.
Twins manager Derek Shelton said his bullpen pitchers are much more rested than they were last week, when injuries and poor performances by starters forced them to take on a heavier workload.
Twins right-hander Joe Ryan helped the cause Monday by logging six innings in the win over Chicago. Shelton then turned to three relievers to pitch one inning apiece.
“It’s probably the first time in a long time that our bullpen has been that rested,” Shelton said. “… Joe going back out and giving us six, and then us being able to go 1-1-1 and get some guys some work but also not being able to tax them was really important.”
On Tuesday, Prielipp will have to pay particular attention to White Sox hitter Miguel Vargas, who had two home runs and four RBIs in the series opener. The performance increased his season total to 15 homers.
“Vargas right now is one of the best hitters in baseball,” Shelton said. “This guy is swinging the bat really well.”
The hot bat of Vargas has helped the White Sox offset the injury absence of their top slugger, Munetaka Murakami, who is on the injured list because of a strained right hamstring.
Murakami remained in Chicago this week to get a platelet-rich plasma injection as part of his treatment for the injury. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz said the team would be patient.
“It’s the first time that we’ve experienced an injury with (Murakami), and everyone kind of heals differently,” Getz said. “It’s important not to rush to any conclusions just because we don’t know how he’s going to recover.”
–Field Level Media
