Minnesota at Chicago

Chicago beat Minnesota 4-1 last night to open this series, continuing a summer that has turned the White Sox into the surprise story of the American League: a club that leads the AL Central by two and a half games and has not let up all year. Anthony Kay gets the ball tonight after two rougher turns, five runs allowed in his last outing against Houston and four the time before that, but he still carries a 9-7 record and a rotation spot on a staff that ranks 14th in the majors in ERA, a full eleven spots ahead of a Minnesota staff sitting at 25th. Taj Bradley has pitched well his last two times out for the Twins, but Minnesota arrives on a two-game skid after an 11-6 blowout loss to Detroit, and its offense has not been enough to cover for a bullpen that has been part of the problem all year. Chicago's lineup ranks sixth in the majors in runs per game, more than capable of putting last night's game away instead of just winning it, and I expect the same result with room to spare tonight. Side with Chicago on the runline tonight.