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GAME DAY
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Where to Watch

Probable Pitchers

Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox

Lineups

Minnesota Twins

#PlayerPos
1Luke KeaschallRF
2Kaelen CulpepperSS
3Ryan JeffersC
4Josh BellDH
5Royce Lewis1B
6Kody Clemens2B
7Brooks Lee3B
8Gabriel GonzalezLF
9Ryan KreidlerCF

Chicago White Sox

#PlayerPos
1Sam AntonacciLF
2Miguel Vargas3B
3Munetaka Murakami1B
4Andrew BenintendiDH
5Colson MontgomerySS
6Braden MontgomeryRF
7Chase Meidroth2B
8Tristan PetersCF
9Jake RogersC

Preview

The Chicago White Sox return to Guaranteed Rate Field on Saturday, September 5 to host the Minnesota Twins in a 7:10 PM ET first pitch. Anthony Kay gets the ball for Chicago against Minnesota's Taj Bradley in what shapes up as a pitching-centric matchup late in the regular season. With the South Siders playing in front of their home crowd, this is a chance to stack a win against a division rival and make a statement heading into the final stretch of the year. Catch it on Chicago Sports Network or ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM.

Anthony Kay vs. Taj Bradley: Saturday's Starting Pitching Matchup

Both starters come into this one without publicly available ERA or record figures to lean on, so the focus shifts to execution on the night. Kay has been part of a White Sox rotation that has leaned on depth and development throughout this season. He'll need to work efficiently against a Twins lineup that carries some legitimate offensive threats. Bradley, acquired by Minnesota and capable of generating swing-and-miss stuff, will be tested by a Chicago order that has some pop in the middle.

Chicago White Sox Lineup: Keys to Watch

Manager Pedro Grifol sends out a lineup with a clear structure. Sam Antonacci leads off from left field, followed by Miguel Vargas at third base. The heart of the order features Munetaka Murakami at first base batting third and Andrew Benintendi as the designated hitter in the cleanup spot — that stretch of the lineup is where the Sox need to do damage against Bradley.

  • Murakami and Benintendi represent the biggest threat to Bradley's rhythm. Getting those two going early puts pressure on the Twins' bullpen.
  • Colson Montgomery bats fifth at shortstop. After an entire development cycle in the minors, Montgomery's plate presence at this stage of the season matters.
  • Braden Montgomery in right field and Chase Meidroth at second base round out the middle of the order — both need to contribute against a capable starter.
  • Jake Rogers catches and hits ninth. His pitch-framing and game-calling behind the plate will be pivotal in how Kay navigates Minnesota's lineup.

Minnesota Twins Lineup: Threats to Know

Minnesota sends a balanced lineup to the South Side. Ryan Jeffers hits third and remains one of the more productive catchers in the American League. Josh Bell slots in as the cleanup designated hitter, and Royce Lewis — batting fifth at first base — is the kind of middle-of-the-order bat who can single-handedly change a game with one swing. Kay cannot afford to leave pitches over the plate to Lewis or Bell.

  • Luke Keaschall leads off from right field — Kay needs to keep him off the bases to neutralize the top of Minnesota's order.
  • Kaelen Culpepper bats second at short — a contact-oriented hitter who can set the table.
  • Brooks Lee at third and Gabriel Gonzalez in left round out the bottom half with athleticism and upside.

Three Keys to a White Sox Win on Saturday

  • Kay keeps Lewis and Bell in check. Those two represent the most dangerous at-bats Minnesota will send to the plate. Command and pitch sequencing are everything here.
  • The Murakami-Benintendi combo delivers. Chicago's middle of the order has the talent to punish Bradley early. Getting a crooked number on the board before the fifth inning changes the complexion of this game entirely.
  • Guaranteed Rate Field crowd stays in it. Home games down the stretch matter. The Sox need that energy to push through tight moments late.

Prediction: White Sox 4, Twins 3

This one figures to be close. Both starters give their teams a chance, and the game likely turns on one big swing in the middle innings. Murakami gets to Bradley for extra bases, and Kay settles in after a shaky first inning. The White Sox bullpen holds the line late. Chicago takes this one in front of the home crowd at Guaranteed Rate Field.