Oakland @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 6, 2013 ) Oakland 5, Chi. White Sox 4
The Chicago White have dropped nine of their last 10, but will attempt to break that slide with their third different manager in as many games Friday when they continue their four-game home set against the Oakland Athletics. Chicago manager Robin Ventura missed Thursday’s series-opening loss to attend his daughter's graduation in California. Bench coach Mark Parent was on the bench Thursday, but will attend his son’s graduation Friday, leaving pitching coach Don Cooper in charge.
While the White Sox eye their first win in five tries against Oakland, the Athletics are 18-3 over their last 21 contests. Yoenis Cespedes registered his second career two-homer effort – both of which have come in the last three games – as Oakland went deep a season-high four times in a 5-4, 10-inning victory. The Athletics have held Chicago to six total runs in their four meetings and won seven of their last eight one-run games overall, including two against the White Sox.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Comcast SportsNet Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (4-6, 4.90 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (5-3, 2.44)
Parker will face Sale for the second time in as many starts after outdueling the 2012 All-Star in Sunday’s 2-0 road victory. The right-hander gave up two hits and two walks while matching a season high with seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings to improve to 4-2 with a 3.22 ERA over his last seven outings. Parker, who faced the White Sox in his Athletics' debut last season, is 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA in his two career outings against them.
Sale nearly matched Parker in his last turn, surrendering only a sixth-inning sacrifice fly to bring his 28-inning scoreless streak to an end. He was still saddled with the loss despite allowing only four hits over six frames. The wiry left-hander has worked at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer in seven straight starts, going 4-2 with a 1.41 ERA over that span. In eight all-time appearances (three starts), Sale is 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA against the Athletics.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago has played in 21 one-run games, tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays for the third-highest total in the majors.
2. Oakland closer Grant Balfour is 14-for-14 in save chances and has posted 32 consecutive saves over the last two seasons – eight shy of Dennis Eckersley’s team record of 40.
3. Forty-six of the White Sox’s 58 games in 2013 have been decided by three runs or fewer, including each of their last seven.
PREDICTION: White Sox 2, Athletics 1