Larry's 10* Div Game of Month (24-10 MLB run)
(MLB) Minnesota vs. Chi White Sox, 09/02/2022 8:10 PM, Score: 3 - 4
Money Line: -133.00 Minnesota (Away)
Result: Loss
My 10* Division Game of the Month (AL Central) is on the Min Twins at 810 ET.

The Minnesota Twins went just 73-89 in 2021 (20 games behind the division-winning White Sox), after winning the AL Central in 2019 and 2020. Chicago ended an 11-year postseason drought in 2020 with a wild card appearance and then ran away with the American League Central title last season with a 93-69 record, winning the division by 13 games over Cleveland. However, it's the Twins who are having the better season. Minnesota visits Chicago for a three-game weekend series at 67-62, while the White Sox are only 65-66. The Twins are just one game behind division leading Cleveland and three games ahead of the White Sox. Chicago is the defending American League Central champions, and they were the presumed favorites to repeat coming into the 2022 season. However, as the calendar shows September, it's time to put up or shut up for the White Sox.

Friday's starting pitchers are Sonny Gray (7-4, 3.04 ERA) for the Twins, while the White Sox will turn to rookie Davis Martin (2-4, 4.62 ERA). Gray won 14 games in back-to-back seasons (2014 and '15) with Oakland but has been an underachiever since. He began this season 82-72 with a career ERA of 3.61. He strained his right hamstring in his second start of 2022 (Apr 16) but returned May 7 after a three-week absence. He also missed the first two weeks of June but takes the mound tonight with a 1.91 ERA and 42-15 KW ratio in his last seven starts. Martin will be facing the Twins for the first time in his debut season. He has split his time between the rotation and the bullpen, with three of his last four outings coming as a starter. His last start was a struggle, lasting just three innings and allowing five runs (three earned).

Many (most) have expected Chicago to finally break through but that just doesn't seem to be the case Minnesota lost its last game but had won SIX in a row prior to that. Meanwhile, the White Sox have lost SEVEN of 10. I'll take the veteran Gray 'in a BIG way" over the rookie Martin.

Good luck...Larry