Vance Worley's start with the Minnesota Twins hasn't gone as planned and he will try again for his first win of the season Friday in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
Worley was acquired from Philadelphia in the offseason in the deal that sent outfielder Ben Revere to the Phillies. So far Worley's gone 0-2 in three starts with a less-than-stellar 10.50 earned run average over 12 innings.
The right-hander lasted just one inning in last Friday's 16-5 blowout loss to the New York Mets, a team Worley has faced several times from his days in the NL East. The Mets rocked Worley for nine runs, seven of which were earned, and seven hits.
Worley has allowed at least three earned runs in every start and has never faced the White Sox in his career.
Minnesota was scheduled to play the finale of a three-game series versus the L.A. Angels on Wednesday with Worley on the hill, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. No makeup date has been announced. The Twins won the first two meetings with the Angels, including Tuesday's 8-6 decision behind four hits and three RBI from Joe Mauer.
"A lot of guys came through in different situations," said Mauer. "It was nice to see, you got to do that to beat good teams."
Mike Pelfrey was just good enough to pick up the win in that one and was charged with four runs on seven hits over five innings of work. Glen Perkins worked out of a jam to notch his third save.
Chicago is back in the friendly confines of U.S. Cellular Field and went just 3-7 on a recent road trip through Washington, Cleveland and Toronto.
The White Sox were denied a sweep of the Blue Jays with Thursday's 3-1 loss and ace lefty Chris Sale suffered the loss, giving up three runs -- two earned -- and four hits in seven innings.
"He threw fine, gave up a couple hits here and there, but stuff-wise he was good," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Sale.
Tyler Flowers drove in the lone run for the White Sox.
Taking the mound for the Pale Hose Friday will be 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy. Peavy bounced back from a rough outing his last time out on Sunday in a 3-1 victory at Cleveland, where he struck out a season high 11 batters and permitted one run in seven innings.
Peavy did not issue a walk for the second time in three starts and is 2-1 with a 3.93 earned run average. The right-hander rebounded nicely after surrendering six runs and nine hits in a setback to Washington.
He has faced Minnesota 11 times -- all starts -- in his career and owns a 6-3 record to go along with a 3.03 ERA in that time.
Chicago creamed the Twins last season by a 14-4 count and won seven of the nine meetings in the Windy City.
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