Chicago @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 0, Baltimore 4
A return home has the Baltimore Orioles flexing their muscles - and a visit from the reeling Chicago White Sox isn't hurting. The Orioles try for their third victory in as many days over the White Sox on Saturday as they hope to pull even closer to Tampa Bay for the second wild card in the American League. Baltimore has hit three homers in each of the first two games, including Chris Davis' major league-leading 48th blast on Friday, to get within two games of the Rays.
The Orioles have cranked out 191 homers to lead the majors, and 17 of their last 18 runs have scored via the long ball. The White Sox are searching for answers after scratching out one run and 10 hits in the first two games of the series to fall to 0-8 on their 10-game road trip and become the first team in the majors to reach 50 losses away from home. "I don't think they're pressing," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. "I don't know what there is to press for."
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Hector Santiago (4-8, 3.43 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (7-7, 3.87)
Santiago is pitching with extended rest after getting whacked for four runs and walking five in only 3 2/3 innings at Boston on Aug. 30. It was the shortest outing since a 2 1/3-inning stint on June 28 for Santiago, who has only one win in his last 12 starts. He turned in a solid effort against Baltimore on July 9, matching his season high with nine strikeouts and giving up two runs in seven frames.
Chen's struggles continued in his last turn, when he gave up three runs and issued five walks in only four innings against the New York Yankees. He was hammered for eight runs in 3 2/3 frames in his previous start against Boston and is only 1-4 in his last six outings. Chen made a pair of starts against the White Sox last year, allowing two runs in each while striking out 12 in 11 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Orioles are 20-2 when hitting at least three homers in a game.
2. White Sox DH Adam Dunn was hitless in four at-bats Friday and is 2-for-29 in his last eight games.
3. Davis needs two homers to tie the club's single-season record of 50 set by Brady Anderson in 1996.
PREDICTION: Orioles 6, White Sox 3