CHICAGO -- After allowing 30 runs over a three-game series against the Yankees, Twins pitching has settled in against the White Sox.

Minnesota's offense has kept the club in first place most of the season, but against the South Siders, the Twins have gotten three quality starts, with the first two leading to wins. Minnesota's lineup struggled against White Sox starter Ivan Nova on Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field in a 5-1 defeat.

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With the loss and the Indians' win in Kansas City, the Twins' lead in the American League Central is down to one game. So the Twins know it'll take more than their powerful bats to win the division.

Martin Pérez was solid on the hill in the third of a four-game set, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings. The first two runs he gave up scored on outs before Yoan Moncada's solo home run in the fifth inning.

“I felt good,” Perez said. ”I was just trying to do my best. We couldn't hit, but that's part of the game. They're trying to do their job, too."

In the series opener on Thursday, All-Star Jose Berrios allowed three runs (two earned) over seven innings with eight strikeouts. Then, on Friday, Michael Pineda allowed two runs over seven innings.

“[Fewer] walks, more quick outs and it's going to give your team a chance to score some runs. You're going to throw less pitches,” Perez said. “Just trying to stay focused and attack the hitters and keep the ball down. Move forward and come back tomorrow.”

“I think Martin battled through his start pretty well,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I think he had to work a little bit for where he got. He went out there and continued to pitch well and had some innings where he was able to make up for lost ground and catch up a little bit.

“I think he gave us a chance to win. I think he put us in a spot where if we were swinging the bats well, we would have been well within the game. And that's all you can really ask for.”

The Twins’ starting pitching has become an even bigger topic of conversation with the Trade Deadline approaching on Wednesday. As starters like Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman and others become available and the Indians putting pressure on in a tightening AL Central race, Minnesota could feel the heat and make a move to upgrade its staff.