Atlanta @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2013 ) Atlanta 6, Chi. White Sox 4
Jake Peavy returns to the Chicago White Sox rotation for Saturday’s home contest against the Atlanta Braves, but plenty of other teams will have an eye on the veteran right-hander. Peavy has not pitched since June 4 due to a fractured rib in his left side, but the 32-year-old is one of several Chicago players attracting interest from other clubs in advance of the July 31 trade deadline. The White Sox are 19 games under .500 for the first time since Sept. 27, 2007.
Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel allowed a run in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, but the 25-year-old returned to form by notching his 27th save in Friday’s 6-4 victory. Kimbrel has recorded four saves in his last five appearances, allowing one hit and striking out 11 in five innings. The series-opening triumph by the Braves snapped their five-game losing streak against the White Sox.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (9-8, 3.98 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Jake Peavy (6-4, 4.30)
Maholm is 2-4 with a 5.19 ERA in his last six starts, allowing four or more earned runs four times. He walked a season-high five batters and threw 103 pitches over 4 1/3 innings in his last start on July 10 in Miami. The veteran has surrendered eight earned runs and 16 hits over 10 1/3 frames in two July outings.
Peavy pitched five strong innings for Double-A Birmingham in a rehab start Sunday, giving up one run on five hits while throwing 57 of his 90 pitches for strikes. He pitched well before the injury, going 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA in May. The right-hander has been excellent at home, winning three of his four starts while posting a 1.88 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta designated hitters are batting .300 with three home runs and seven RBIs in eight interleague games this season. They posted a .156 average in such contests last year.
2. Peavy is 8-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 13 interleague games with Chicago.
3. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman did not start Friday due to a jammed thumb but entered the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.
PREDICTION: White Sox 5, Braves 2