Baltimore @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Baltimore 3
The hot streak that pushed the Chicago White Sox to the top of the AL Central has become a fading memory.
If what's happened so far in August is any indication, the White Sox will soon be a fading memory too.
After winning on Aug. 5, Chicago had a 62-46 record and held a 1 1/2-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the division. A hot stretch that began in early June had the White Sox in what appeared to be an excellent position in the division race.
Thanks to a team-wide collapse and a hot streak by the Twins, the outlook has changed completely for manager Ozzie Guillen's club. While Chicago is 5-11 since Aug. 5, Minnesota has gone 11-5, pushing the White Sox to 4 1/2 games off the pace going into the opener of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.
Not only have the White Sox lost four of six to the Twins, they haven't played well against sub-.500 teams in the last two weeks. Chicago lost two of three at home to the Detroit Tigers and spent a miserable weekend in Kansas City, a series that included a rainout, a doubleheader and three games that went into extra innings.
Despite leading in all three games, the White Sox lost two of three to the Royals, who are fighting to stay out of last place in the Central.
The White Sox must pick up the pieces quickly if they want to stay close to the Twins, but that won't be easy.
The Orioles have the worst record in the league, but haven't been pushovers since Buck Showalter took over as manager on Aug. 3. Baltimore is 12-8 under Showalter and split a home weekend series with the AL West-leadin Texas Rangers.
In adition, the Orioles took three of four from the White Sox at Camden Yards earlier this month.
Gavin Floyd, who starts in the series opener for the White Sox, will be happy to be facing someone other than the Twins.
After being one of the top starters in the league for two months - he gave up 11 earned runs in 12 starts - the right-hander was knocked around by the Twins in his last two outings. Floyd lost both games, allowing 13 earned runs and 20 hits in 12 total innings.
Floyd defeated the Orioles on Aug. 7 at Camden Yards, allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings.
Jeremy Guthrie had one of his best outings of the season against Chicago on Aug. 8. He held the White Sox to one earned run and six hits in eight innings.
Guthrie saw his three-start winning streak snapped in last outing against the Seattle Mariners. He gave up six runs and eight hits in eight innings.