White Sox, Twins clash to decide AL Central crown

Baseball Betting Lines

09/30/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox will meet in a one-game tiebreaker this evening at U.S. Cellular Field to determine the American League Central title.

Chicago, which was swept in a three-game set by the Twins last week, caught a break when it won the coin toss, allowing the game to be played in the Windy City, where Minnesota lost seven of its nine games played this season.

This is the AL's fourth tiebreaker contest and the first since Seattle beat the California Angels for the AL West title 1995. Last season, Colorado beat San Diego 9-8 in 13 innings in an NL wild-card tiebreaker game.

Of course, the winner of tonight's contest will play the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS starting on Thursday at Tropicana Field.

Chicago made this game necessary on Monday, as Alexei Ramirez slugged a grand slam to break a tie in the sixth inning, helping the White Sox past Detroit, 8-2.

The extra tilt was necessary after the clubs' September 13 game was postponed due to rain. As a result, the White Sox came into action trailing the AL Central-leading Twins by a half-game.

Jermaine Dye knocked in a pair while A.J. Pierzynski collected two hits and drove in a run for the White Sox (88-74), who are trying to get back into the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2005.

Chicago has now won back-to-back games after a five-game slide.

Gavin Floyd (17-8) pitched admirably on three days' rest. He allowed five hits and two runs -- one earned -- over six innings, fanning eight with a pair of walks to earn his first win since September 16.

Chicago will pin its hopes on 23-year-old left-hander John Danks, who is 11-9 with a 3.47 ERA. Danks, though, has lost four of his last five decisions and was hammered by Cleveland in his last start on Friday, as he allowed seven runs and seven hits in four innings.

Danks, who will also be pitching on short rest, has also struggled this season against the Twins, going 1-2 with a 7.45 ERA. He is 2-3 lifetime against the with a 6.88 ERA in seven starts.

Minnesota, meanwhile, goes with 26-year-old righty Nick Blackburn, who beat the White Sox the last time he took the hill. Last Wednesday at the Metrodome Blackburn held Chicago to a pair of runs and eight hits in five innings, upping his record to 11-10, while lowering his ERA to 4.14.

Blackburn has faced the White Sox six times (five starts) and is 2-2 in those contests with a 5.28 ERA.

Like the White Sox, the Twins struggled the final weekend, losing two of three to the Kansas City Royals. A win tonight, though, would give the Twins their fifth AL Central title in the last seven years.

Given the extra game, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau has a chance to win the AL's RBI title, as well. Morneau needs one RBI this evening to match Josh Hamilton of Texas for the AL RBI lead with 130.

Joe Mauer should be able to hold onto his AL batting crown. The catcher, whose .330 average is four points better than Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia, would need to go 0-for-7 to lose what would be his second AL batting title in three seasons.

Minnesota won the season series with the White Sox, 10-8.