5

As The Update predicted, the White Sox took two out of three from the Royals over the weekend. (By the way, Mike and Mike were yukking it up over Rays' manager, Joe Maddon, using the term "meat loaf" to mean taking two outta three; loyal readers know we've been using that term for years.) The Twins won one another from Tampa Bay (they also won on Thursday). So the Magic Number is down to five, and the lead is at 2.5 games.

And now the fun begins. The Sox and Twins face off in the Metrodome on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We need to win at least one, which is no easy feat. The Sox are 1-5 in Minnesota for the season, and historically have sucked there. At least, all of the Sox pitchers will be going on the normal four days rest. The pitching matchups are Javier Vazquez (12-14; 4.32 ERA) vs. Scott Baker (9-4; 3.69); Mark Buehrle (14-11; 3.87) vs. Nick Blackburn (10-10; 4.15); and Gavin Floyd (16-8;3.84) vs. Kevin Slowey (12-11; 3.85). The numbers suggest the Sox have the edge in the last two games, but we're sticking with our earlier prediction that the Twins meat loaf the Sox (take that, Joe Maddon).

That means the Sox will head back to the Cell with a 1.5 game lead and a Magic Number of 3 and will have three games to get those wins against the Tribe, against whom they've amassed a 6-0 record at home, or in the makeup game with the Tigers at home, if necessary. (Should it come to that, we like facing a team that has nothing to play for and thought it was done for the season.) Minnesota meanwhile will entertain the Royals, whom we still predict will get swept. It would be great if KC could do to them what it did to us -- win at least one game. This is all too close for comfort. Go Sox!