<p>
The Twins still cling to a short lead in the AL Central, heading into the opener of a four-game rivalry series with the White Sox Thursday night on the South Side. Which way are we going here with our free MLB pick?
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<h2>
MLB Betting Odds<br />
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<p>
Thursday's MLB betting odds opened Minnesota at around -145 over Chicago, with an over/under of nine runs. Early betting action then dipped that total to 8.5.
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<h2>
Twins vs. White Sox Set-Up<br />
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<p>
Minnesota just dropped two of three games at home to the Yankees, losing Wednesday's series rubber match 10-7. Just before that, the Twins split four games with Oakland, and just before that they got swept two games by the Mets. So Minnesota is 0-2-1 over its last three series and just 3-7 over its last ten games.
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At 61-40 overall the Twins' lead in the AL Central is down to just two games over second-place Cleveland.
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<p>
Chicago, meanwhile, just dropped two of three games at home to Miami, losing Wednesday's series rubber match 2-0. Just before that the White Sox took two of three games from Tampa Bay, but just before that they got swept four games by Kansas City. Going back a bit further Chicago is 1-3 over its last four series and 4-12 over its last 16 games.
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<p>
At 45-54 overall the White Sox trail Minnesota by 15 games in the AL West, and they're 11 games behind the A's in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot.
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<p>
The Twins lead the season series with ChiSox four games to two.
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<h2>
Thursday's Starting Arms<br />
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Giolito, by our stringent standards, is 9/19 on quality starts this season but only one for his last three. Last Saturday he held the Rays to one run and seven hits through 6 2/3 innings, with nine strikeouts, in a 2-1 Chicago victory. But over his two starts previous to that he gave up nine runs and 11 hits through 10 innings.
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The White Sox are 13-6 with Giolito this season, but 1-2 over his last three starts.
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In his only start this season against Minnesota, back in June, Giolito tossed five innings of one-hit, shutout ball in a 4-3 Chicago win.
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<p>
Berrios is 14/20 on quality starts this year but 0 for his last three, thanks in part to a short leash. Last Saturday he held the A's scoreless on five hits through 5 2/3 innings of a game the Twins eventually lost 5-4. But over his two starts previous to that he gave up six runs and 12 hits through 10 innings.
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Minnesota is 12-8 with Berrios this year, and while it's 0-4 over his last four starts, that's not all his fault.
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In two starts this season against the White Sox Berrios allowed ten runs – only four earned – and 18 hits through 14 innings. The Twins split those two games.
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<h2>
Thursday's Batting Splits<br />
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<p>
Minnesota is batting .264/.332/.491 against right-handed pitching this season. The Twins have also scored 34 runs over their last four games.
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Chicago is batting .249/.305/.399 against RH pitching this season. The White Sox have also scored a total of just one run over their last two games.
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<h2>
The Bullpens<br />
</h2>
<p>
The Twins bullpen owns a 4.46 ERA this season and a 1.39 WHIP while allowing a .758 OPS.
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The White Sox pen owns a 4.42 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP while allowing a .749 OPS.
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<h2>
Totals Report<br />
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<li>
Overs are 50-45 in Twins games this season.
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Unders are 49-47 in White Sox games this season.
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Overs are 24-22 in games played at Guaranteed Rate Field this season.
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Unders are 3-2 in Twins-White Sox games this season.
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<p><section></p>
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<span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="color:#008000;">Get more details:</span></b> <a class="advblue" href="https://www.sportsbettingstats.com/mlb/matchup/1080913">Twins at White Sox MLB Match-up Stats</a> </span>
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</ul>
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