TWINS VS. WHITE SOX SERIES PREVIEW

All Central, all the time on homestand

THREE-GAME SERIES AT TARGET FIELD

Friday, 7:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Adalberto Mejia (0-1, 10.80) vs. RHP Dylan Covey (MLB debut)

Saturday, 1:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: RHP Ervin Santana (2-0, 0.69) vs. LHP Jose Quintana (0-2, 6.17)

Sunday, 3:10 p.m. • FSN, 96.3-FM: LHP Hector Santiago (1-1, 2.38) vs. RHP James Shields (1-0, 1.69)

TWINS UPDATE

This is the start of a 10-game home-stand, all against AL Central teams, at Target Field. … They won two of three in Chicago last week but were 7-12 against the White Sox last year, and 4-5 at home. … Their above-.500 start is mostly due to pitching, an amazing turnaround from last year's MLB-worst staff. Entering Thursday, they had allowed only 20 runs through eight games, tied with the White Sox for fewest in the AL. … 3B Miguel Sano has six homers against the White Sox, more than against any other team.

WHITE SOX UPDATE

This is the middle stop on a three-city road trip. … Covey, Chicago's Rule 5 pick from Oakland last December, makes his major league debut on Friday. A college roommate of Cubs 3B Kris Bryant for three years at the University of San Diego, Covey posted a 1.84 ERA in six starts last season at Class AA Midland. He's never pitched above the AA level. … RF Avisail Garcia entered Thursday with a .407 batting average, second-best in the AL. … Shields had a 6.77 ERA for the White Sox last year but has allowed only two runs in 10 ⅔ innings to start 2017.

PHIL MILLER