Southside Showdown
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Series Preview: White Sox at Athletics

By Patrick K. Flowers Sr.

May 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton (1) and left fielder Melky Cabrera (53) celebrate with right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) after being batted in against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton (1) and left fielder Melky Cabrera (53) celebrate with right fielder Avisail Garcia (26) after being batted in against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Chicago White Sox and the Oakland Athletics open their 2016 season’s on Monday night at O.Co Coliseum in game one of a four game series before the White Sox head home on Friday. Chris Sale, and Sonny Gray will be the Opening day starters in game one of the series on Monday evening.

Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /

The White Sox are coming off of a highly successful Cactus League campaign in which they smacked 49 home runs, 27 more than they hit in 2015 and the most since spring training records began being kept in 2006. They also secured their first winning record in Cactus League play since 2006 this spring. More importantly than the impressive offensive feats that they accomplished this spring, the White Sox have an electrifying buzz inside the clubhouse leading players to believe that the White Sox are ready to make some noise in 2016.

The Athletics on the other hand, are coming off of a 68 win season in 2015, and an offseason that saw the puzzling decision making of GM Billy Beane trade away more valuable pieces for little return, including shipping Brett Lawrie to the South Side in return for two low level minor league pitchers, that will likely never see the major league level. The A’s are in store for a long season in 2016, as they are seemingly in the middle of one of Beane’s methodical, and baffling rebuilds at the current moment in time.

Pitching Probables

Injury Report

White Sox:

  • None

Athletics:

  • Jarrod Parker – 60 Day DL – Right elbow surgery on April 1, 2016

Broadcast Info:

  • Game 1: 9:05 PM (CT)  / TV – CSN Chicago / Radio – WLS 890AM
  • Game 2: 9:05 PM (CT) / TV – WGN               / Radio – WLS 890AM
  • Game 3: 9:05 PM (CT) / TV – CSN Chicago / Radio – WLS 890AM
  • Game 4: 2:35 PM (CT) / TV – CSN Chicago / Radio – WLS 890AM

Keys to Victory:

  • Carry the spring training power surge over to the regular season.
  • Limit the strike outs, beyond Sonny Gray the A’s rotation lacks experience, the White Sox need to avoid giving them easy outs.
  • Take advantage of starting the season on the west coast. The White Sox traditional start the season slow offensively largely due in part to opening the season in the mid-west, in temperatures just above freezing. The White Sox get to open the season with four games in Oakland this year, they need to get the bats going out of the gates.
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