Chicago @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2013 ) Baltimore 2, Chi. White Sox 3

The Baltimore Orioles have fallen back in the playoff chase after going 3-6 on a nine-game road trip, but they have a chance to climb back up the standings when they host the reeling Chicago White Sox on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Baltimore lost two of three in Cleveland to fall one-half game behind the Indians and into fifth place in the American League wild-card standings, four games back of Tampa Bay. The Orioles have not played well for nearly a month, losing 14 of their last 23 games.

Chicago played well for most of the second half of August, but it arrives in Baltimore on a six-game losing streak following a three-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees. The White Sox have been a disaster away from home and suffered their major league-worst 48th road defeat with Wednesday's 6-5 loss in New York. Chicago is switching to a six-man starting rotation for the rest of the season, which can't hurt as the club has yielded 39 runs during its six-game skid.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Jose Quintana (7-5, 3.69 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Miguel Gonzalez (8-7, 4.11)

Quintana will come back on short rest after Monday's start lasted just one inning due to rain, but he still absorbed the loss after giving up a run and two hits to the Yankees. Excluding that outing, the 24-year-old Colombian has allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts. That includes a no-decision versus Baltimore on July 4, when Quintana struck out 11 and gave up two hits in seven scoreless innings.

Gonzalez's last start also came against the Yankees on Aug. 30, and it was not pretty as he was battered for a season-high seven runs in four-plus innings. He pitched in relief in his previous two appearances, so fatigue should not be a factor as he seeks his first victory since July 20. Gonzalez is 5-2 with a 4.02 ERA in 11 home games (10 starts), but he has surrendered 13 homers in 62 2/3 innings at Camden Yards.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles 3B Manny Machado is riding an eight-game hitting streak, but he is only 4-for-24 versus Chicago.

2. White Sox rookie RF Avisail Garcia is batting .400 (14-for-35) with two homers and eight RBIs in his last nine games.

3. Orioles 1B Chris Davis, who leads the majors with 47 homers, has gone deep only once in 12 contests.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, White Sox 3