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Twins vs. White Sox Prediction and Odds for Friday, September 2 (Side with Sonny Gray on Chicago's South Side)

By Ben Heisler

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray has not allowed more than three earned runs since July 14 against the team he faces tonight: the White Sox
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Sonny Gray has not allowed more than three earned runs since July 14 against the team he faces tonight: the White Sox / Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
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Are the Chicago White Sox' power bats finally waking up in the final portion of the season?

After entering the season as the consensus favorites to win the division, Chicago has struggled both to find consistent pitching, as well as solid power production from their big boppers in their lineup.

Perhaps the tides have changed following their four-game split vs. the Kansas City Royals; as the Sox slugged seven total home runs over their last three games.

Their new-found power will be put to the test when Sonny Gray and the Minnesota Twins come to town to start a crucial series this evening. The Sox counter the Twins' ace with right-hander Davis Martin.

Here are the latest odds for tonight's pivotal AL Central matchup from Guaranteed Rate Field.

Twins vs. White Sox Odds, Run Line and Total

Twins vs. White Sox Prediction and Pick

It's certainly a good sign to see Chicago turn things around of late, but they did it against one of the worst teams in the American League the last few days and still split the four-game series at home. Are we really convinced that they're back?

Facing Sonny Gray and beating him would be notable. The Twins' ace of the rotation this season has been terrific and consistent pretty much all season with a 3.04 ERA and 3.42 Fielding Independent Pitching, or FIP. However, he did get roughed up by the Sox the last time he faced them on July 14; giving up six earned runs in Minneapolis in just 3.2 innings.

Since then, however, he has been nails; pitching to a 1.91 ERA in 37.2 innings and striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings.

Davis Martin hasn't been awful, but he hasn't been good, or particularly dominant either. In nine games (five starts), he owns a 4.62 ERA, a 4.99 expected ERA (xERA), a isn't generating many strikeouts; fanning under 6.5 per nine innings. He also has a disastrous 7.71 ERA at home this year.

Even if Chicago gets to Gray for the second time this year, I'm just as convinced the Twins get to Martin in a park where he's been awful. I'll take the better pitcher, and better team this year to win outright on the moneyline.

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