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After a thrilling three-game sweep at Wrigley Field, the White Sox (66-46) are back in action. Tonight’s game will be the opener of a three-game series in Minnesota against the Twins (48-64). The South Siders are 12-4 against Minnesota this season, and this will be the last series of the season between these two teams.
Lucas Giolito will start on the mound for the White Sox. In 2021, Giolito has a 3.98 ERA, 3.30 xERA, 4.07 FIP, and 2.4 fWAR. Giolito has faced the Twins twice this season, and like most White Sox pitchers, his numbers have been strong against them. In those two games, Giolito has pitched 14 innings, and he has a 2.57 ERA. Twins hitters have a slash line of only .178/.245/.333 against him.
Beau Burrows, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher, will start on the mound for the Twins. Burrows has only pitched nine innings in the majors this season, and he is off to a slow start (11.00 ERA, 8.80 xERA, 7.06 FIP, -0.2 fWAR). Burrows was a first round pick (No. 22 overall) by the Tigers in 2015, but he has yet to find his footing in MLB.
Here are tonight’s starting lineups:
The White Sox have homered in a season-high nine straight games (19 total) and have hit 55 over their last 34 games.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 9, 2021
⏰: 7:10 p.m. CT
: @NBCSChicago & @espn
: @ESPN1000 pic.twitter.com/L0w0ewmMJM
Back at Target Field for a season-long 9-game homestand. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/1B0gr4op2a
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) August 9, 2021
Earlier this afternoon, the White Sox made the following announcement:
Prior to tonight’s series opener at MIN, the #WhiteSox made the following three roster moves:
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 9, 2021
- Returned Luis Robert from his injury rehab. assignment with Charlotte & reinstated him from the 60-day injured list;
- Optioned Gavin Sheets to Charlotte;
- Released OF Luis González.
That’s right, folks. At long last, Luis Robert is back!
Gavin Sheets, 25, who was slashing .225/.293/.483 (111 wRC+) with 0.1 fWAR in 29 games, will be heading to Triple-A Charlotte. Best of luck to Sheets with the Knights, and his first MLB stint will certainly not be his last.
Also, Luis González, another 25-year-old outfielder, was released. Best of luck to González, who was drafted by the White Sox in the third round in 2017 and has been in the organization since. A return to the organization is still quite possible.
They just need the 40-man roster spot and with Luis suffering a season ending shoulder injury he’s unlikely to be claimed on waivers. It’s similar to what happened with Tyler Johnson two weeks ago.
— Daniel Victor (@slydanno70) August 9, 2021
Shortly before the game, the White Sox also made this announcement:
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 9, 2021
Best wishes to the greatest play-by-play announcer in sports. We all hope Benetti recovers soon.
Tonight’s game will start at 7:10 p.m. Central. As usual, NBC Sports Chicago will televise it, and amazingly, for the second night in a row, ESPN is airing a White Sox game. WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. Let’s keep the win streak going.