The Chicago White Sox are well aware of their place at the bottom of the standings.
But that doesn’t mean the final month of the season lacks importance for Chicago.
The White Sox (50-88) see plenty of opportunity for growth heading into next season. They will look for continued progress when they face the Minnesota Twins (62-75) on Tuesday evening in Minneapolis.
Chicago won the series opener 6-5 on Monday thanks to a comeback effort in the eighth inning.
“We just want to make sure we finish strong, on top of all the individual things that guys are doing on the field,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “We have a really young group, and as these guys are experiencing a full major-league season for the first time, there are things that happen in the weight room and training room that we need to really stay dialed in on to finish strong.”
Minnesota also is looking for something to build upon in what has been a brutal stretch. The Twins’ front office executed a fire sale before the trade deadline, and the team kept things together for a bit before losing 14 of its last 20 games.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli remains focused on finding ways to win, even if the roster features a number of unproven players and minor-league call ups.
“We had the lead in the seventh inning,” Baldelli said after Monday’s loss. “We expect to win that game. We want to win that game.
“We fell behind early. We fought back. We drove in runs. What else do we really want after a tough start? We just couldn’t hold it and finish it off.”
On Tuesday, the Twins will turn to right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.59 ERA) for his 18th start of the season. He is searching for his first victory since July 8 against the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Woods Richardson has started four games against the White Sox in his career. He has a 4.32 ERA without a decision, and he has struck out 19 batters with seven walks in 16 2/3 innings.
Chicago will counter with right-hander Davis Martin (5-9, 4.03), who will make his 21st start of the season. Martin faced the Twins on Aug. 23 and earned the victory while allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with six strikeouts in five innings.
In five career games (four starts) against the Twins, Martin is 1-3 with a 6.64 ERA in 20 1/3 innings.
Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth will look to stay hot at the plate after each belted a homer against the Twins in the series opener. Mike Tauchman doubled and drove in a pair of runs.
Meidroth said the performance gave the team hope going forward into the final month.
“September is the most important month,” Meidroth said. “Playing and winning games in September is what winning ball clubs do. (September games are) important no matter who we’re playing.”
The White Sox and Twins have played 10 games so far during the regular season. The teams have split the matchups with five wins apiece.