Chicago @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Mar 30, 2010 ) Oakland 0, Chi. White Sox 2
The Chicago White Sox are hoping a new bullpen committee will get them back to their pre-All-Star game form.
The White Sox will test out that theory when they open up a three-game series against the resurgent Oakland Athletics on Friday.
Chicago surged into first place in the American League Central with a 25-5 stretch that concluded with an eight-game winning streak leading into the All-Star break. But in seven games since, the White Sox have struggled to find that same form, going 3-4.
Two of those losses were due to blown saves by Bobby Jenks, who has watched his ERA balloon to 5.09.
The latest meltdown came on Wednesday, when Jenks allowed two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning at Seattle after Chicago had scored the game’s first run in the top of the frame.
That crushing defeat prompted manager Ozzie Guillen to announce that the club would move to a closer-by-committee system, with Jenks sharing duties with Matt Thornton, Sergio Santos and J.J. Putz, depending on the situation.
Thornton has been the team’s primary eighth-inning option this season while Santos and Putz are the only two regulars on the staff with sub-2.00 ERAs. Putz, who leads the team with a .172 batting average against, is the only one of the three with extensive closing experience in the past, having made the All-Star team as the Mariners closer in 2007.
The A’s have been on a surge of their own of late, winning seven of their past eight games to move over .500 for the first time since June 11. Pitching has the key to Oakland’s success, with the staff posting a 2.34 ERA over that span.
All-Star Trevor Cahill will get the call for the A’s tonight and will be trying to bounce back from one of his worst starts of the season. The right-hander yielded five runs and five hits while walking four in 6 2/3 innings at Kansas City last weekend. Oakland managed to earn a 6-5 win, but Cahill watched his ERA jump back over 3.00.
The 22-year-old has allowed two runs or less in 10 of his 16 starts this season, having his most success when he is able to limit his walks and keep the ball on the ground. Cahill has faced Chicago three times in his career without earning a decision, allowing seven runs in 14 2/3 innings.
The White Sox will counter with veteran Mark Buehrle. The left-hander is 5-2 with a 2.42 ERA over his last seven starts but is coming off a complete-game loss at Minnesota last weekend, allowing three runs on nine hits.
Buehrle has never won in his career at Oakland, going 0-6 with a 4.95 ERA in 10 starts.