MLB Game Preview - Minnesota at Chicago Sox

Sun Jul 28, 2019 2:10 PM EDT

After seeing their American League Central lead dwindle to just one game with a 5-1 loss on Saturday night, the visiting Minnesota Twins will turn to right-hander Kyle Gibson to pitch Sunday afternoon's series finale against the Chicago White Sox.

Gibson (9-4, 4.24 ERA) is 8-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 15 career starts against the White Sox, including 5-2 and a 2.97 ERA in nine career games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander gave up one run on five hits while striking out nine over seven innings in a May 25 victory over the White Sox in Minneapolis earlier this season. He will be trying to help the Twins, who won the first two of the four-game set, garner a series victory.

Right-hander Dylan Covey (1-6, 6.04) will start for the White Sox. Covey is 0-3 with a 5.47 ERA in five appearances and three career starts against Minnesota, including a loss in a 7-0 defeat to the Twins on May 26 at Target Field. He allowed four runs, including a three-run homer to Eddie Rosario, on three hits in six innings.

Chicago snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday night as Yoan Moncada -- who dropped a popup in the third inning to allow Minnesota to score its lone run -- went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and two RBIs.

It was the 20th homer of the season for Moncada, who is batting .361 (61-for-169) with nine doubles, 15 home runs and 35 RBIs in 42 games against AL Central opponents.

"That was one of my first goals this season, just to reach at least 20 homers," Moncada told the Chicago Tribune. "And it's something that made me feel good. It's special."

It was just the fourth victory in 16 games since the All-Star break for the White Sox, who trail the Twins by 16 games while occupying third place in the Central.

"We have been handling it as good as we can," Moncada said. "It's a long season, and even though we are passing through a rough patch right now, we are doing our best."

Minnesota had seven home runs in the first two games of the series and has been making headlines with its record home run pace, bashing 201 so far this season. But the Twins were held to just three hits in Saturday's loss and had a 11-game home run streak snapped. It was only the fourth time this season the Twins were held to three hits or fewer in a contest.

Minnesota did make some noise off the field during the game, however, acquiring veteran right-handed reliever Sergio Romo (2-0, 3.58 ERA), minor league pitcher Chris Vallimont and a player to be named later from the Miami Marlins for minor league first baseman Lewin Diaz.

Romo, who has converted 17 of 18 save opportunities this season and has 126 saves and a 2.91 ERA in a career that includes three World Series titles with the Giants and a berth on the 2013 All-Star team, was expected to make the flight from Miami for Sunday's finale and then head back to Florida with the Twins after the game. Minnesota, which ranks 14th in the majors in bullpen ERA, opens a three-game series in Miami on Tuesday night.

"I know that he's ultra-competitive," said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who saw Romo up close the last two seasons as major league field coordinator with Tampa Bay, where Romo had 25 saves last season. "He wants the ball. He's scared of nothing.

"He's been around for a very, very long time. He's had a very successful career. He's pitched in some big, big spots, and once you get a chance to know him you can see how he's had success in those spots."

--Field Level Media