Series Preview: White Sox at Orioles

The Chicago White Sox (16-6) open a four game series with the Baltimore Orioles (12-8) this evening in Baltimore. The White Sox enter play today with the most wins in all of baseball, and the American League Central leaders, four games ahead of division rival Kansas City.

The White Sox have the best pitching staff in the American League thus far in 2016, and the bats woke from their slumber this week in Toronto as well. The White Sox outscored the defending American League East champs 21-6 over the course of a three game sweep by the south siders. The White Sox come into the four game series with the Orioles as quite possibly the hottest team in baseball, having won six consecutive games over two teams that won their divisions in 2015.

The Orioles on the other hand come into the series with a respectable 12-8 record, good for first place in the American League East entering play today. The Orioles started the season 7-0, and have since went just 5-8 giving the indication that the O’s pitching might just be a bigger problem than they imagined at the start of the season. The Orioles rank 11th in ERA, and 12th in both opponent batting average, and WHIP across baseball this year. The White Sox on the other hand rand first in baseball with a team ERA of 2.24, and opponents are hitting just .207 against White Sox pitching.

The White Sox have seemingly everything working right now, and I’d imagine they will keep it going this weekend in Baltimore as they have Chris Sale, Mat Latos, and Carlos Rodon all slated to pitch in this series, that is of course after John Danks tonight. If they Orioles had a shot at putting up some runs against the Sox, tonight would be the night to do so.

Pitching Probables

• Game 1: John Danks [0-3, 6.23 ERA] VS. Tyler Wilson [1-0, 2.77 ERA]
• Game 2: Carlos Rodon [1-2, 4.05 ERA] VS. Mike Wright [1-2, 6.23 ERA]
• Game 3: Mat Latos [4-0, 0.74 ERA] VS. Kevin Gausman [0-1, 1.80 ERA]
• Game 4: Chris Sale [5-0, 1.66 ERA] VS. Ubaldo Jimenez [1-2, 3.91 ERA]

Injury Report

White Sox:

04/24

15-day DL

Possibly mid-May

Right hamstring strain

Placed on 15-day DL on April 24.

04/26

15-day DL

Possibly May

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Placed on 15-day DL on April 26, retroactive to April 24.

Orioles:

04/25

15-day DL

TBD

Right shoulder bicep tendinitis

Placed on 15-day DL on April 23, underwent MRI and received cortisone injection April 24.

04/26

15-day DL

Possibly May

Left wrist sprain

Sent on Double-A rehab assignment April 26.

Broadcast Info

• Game 1: 6:05 PM (CT)  / TV: CSN    / Radio: WLS 890AM
• Game 2: 6:05 PM (CT)  / TV: CSN   /  Radio: WLS 890AM
• Game 3: 6:05 PM (CT)  / TV: WGN / Radio: WLS 890AM
• Game 4: 12:35 PM (CT) / TV: CSN  /  Radio: WLS 890AM

Keys to Success:

• Keep the offensive pressure going, the bats finally came around in Toronto by putting up 21 runs in three games. The Orioles pitching is middle of the road at best, the White Sox should be able to equal or top the run production that we saw in Toronto, and if they do look for the Sox to take at least three of four this weekend.