White Sox Travel to Minnesota Looking to End Road Struggles
Game Details & Where to Watch
Thursday, September 4, 2025
7:40 PM CT at Target Field
TV: CHSN (White Sox) | MNNT (Twins)
Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+
The White Sox head to Minneapolis for another road test against the struggling Twins, who’ve dropped three straight games. While this season hasn’t gone as planned for us, there are still opportunities to build momentum and evaluate young talent for the future.
Starting Pitcher Matchup: Shane Smith vs Taj Bradley
Shane Smith – Chicago White Sox
- Record: 4-7, 3.81 ERA
- Season Stats: 112 strikeouts in 120⅓ innings
- Opponent Average: .213 (excellent control)
- Last Start: 6⅓ IP, 2 ER vs Yankees (solid outing)
Shane Smith has been one of our few bright spots this season. That 3.81 ERA and .213 opponent average show he’s got legitimate major league stuff. At just 25 years old, he’s exactly the type of pitcher we need to build around going forward.
Taj Bradley – Minnesota Twins
- Record: 6-7, 4.82 ERA
- Key Stats: 7.6 K/9, 3.6 BB/9 ratio
- Recent Form: 5 IP, 1 ER vs San Diego (his best start in weeks)
- Season Outlook: Inconsistent command, hittable when behind in counts
Bradley’s been up and down all season, and that 4.82 ERA tells the story. If our hitters can work counts and get him behind, we should have chances to score.
White Sox Offense: Finding Life in September
Despite the overall struggles, our bats have shown some signs of life lately:
Recent Power Surge
- 14 home runs in the last 10 games – that’s encouraging for a team that’s struggled to score all year
- Slugging .413 with 31 extra-base hits over that span
- Batting .247 as a team with 88 hits in 10 games
Colson Montgomery: Future Star
Montgomery’s been our best hitter lately with 6 homers and 11 RBIs in his last 10 games. This is exactly what we hoped to see from our top prospect – the kid’s got legitimate power and is starting to adjust to major league pitching.
Andrew Benintendi’s Hot Streak
Benintendi is swinging it well, hitting .400 with 3 homers over the last 10. When he’s locked in, he can carry the lineup. We need these veteran contributions while the young guys develop.
What We’re Facing from Minnesota
The Twins are scuffling right now with three straight losses, but they still have some dangerous pieces:
Byron Buxton Still a Threat
Buxton leads Minnesota with 4 homers and 10 RBIs in his last 10. He’s always been a White Sox killer, so Smith needs to attack the strike zone carefully and not give him anything to hit.
Recent Offensive Numbers
- 13 home runs in last 10 games – they can still take you deep
- .243 team average with 8.2 hits per game – not great, but serviceable
- 29 extra-base hits over 10 games shows they’re getting some power
Pitching Struggles
Here’s where we might have an advantage – Twins pitchers have a 6.93 ERA over the last 10 games and have allowed 19 home runs. If we can continue our recent power surge, runs should be available.
Injury Report: Key Players Missing
White Sox Injury Concerns
We’re still without Luis Robert (hamstring) and Miguel Vargas (hand), which continues to hurt our lineup depth. Robert’s absence especially has been felt all season – when healthy, he’s our most dynamic player.
Twins Missing Pieces
Minnesota has their own issues with Pablo Lopez (shoulder) on the 60-day IL and several other pitchers sidelined. Their rotation depth has been tested all year.
Why This Game Matters for White Sox Fans
Look, let’s be honest about where we are. This hasn’t been the season anyone wanted, but games like these are about more than wins and losses. We’re evaluating talent, developing young players, and building for the future.
Montgomery’s emergence, Smith’s development, and Benintendi’s veteran leadership are all positives we can take from this season. Every at-bat and every inning pitched is valuable experience for 2026 and beyond.
Keys to Victory Tonight
- Smith Attacks the Zone – With that 3.81 ERA, just throw strikes and trust the defense. Bradley’s been inconsistent, so we need our guy to be the steady presence.
- Continue the Power Surge – 14 homers in 10 games shows we can still mash when locked in. Target Field plays fair, so let’s keep launching.
- Work Bradley’s Counts – His 3.6 BB/9 shows he’ll give you free passes if you’re patient. Make him throw strikes.
White Sox Fan Prediction
Final Score: White Sox 7, Twins 5
Both pitching staffs have been struggling lately (Twins 6.93 ERA, White Sox 4.70 ERA), so this feels like it could be a slugfest. Smith’s been our most reliable starter, and if Montgomery and Benintendi stay hot, we can outscore them.
The Twins are reeling with three straight losses, and we’ve got some momentum with the recent offensive production. Sometimes you just have to take advantage when the other team is down.
The Bottom Line: We’re playing for pride and development at this point. Smith gives us a chance every fifth day, and our young hitters are starting to show what they can do. Let’s steal one in Minneapolis.
With limited games remaining, every White Sox performance is about building toward next season. Smith’s continued development and Montgomery’s emergence give us reasons to stay optimistic about the future.
Let´s go White Sox!