Chicago @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( May 24, 2018 ) Baltimore 9, Chi. White Sox 3

Winning streaks have been hard to come by lately for the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, but one of them will be able to claim consecutive victories before the start of the weekend. Two of the three teams with the worst records in the American League square off on Friday as the Orioles host the White Sox in the opener of their three-game series.

Chicago (57-89) entered Wednesday's series finale with Kansas City on a seven-game slide before Tim Anderson's two-run homer in the 12th inning gave the team its fifth win in 15 contests. Offense has been in short supply for the White Sox throughout most of that stretch, producing fewer than five runs in nine straight games to match its longest such run from last season. Baltimore (42-104) owns the worst record in the majors, but it received a rare strong start from Dylan Bundy to defeat Oakland 5-3 on Thursday and snap its six-game skid. The White Sox and Orioles, who are a combined 5-17 this month, split a four-game series in late May.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH James Shields (6-16, 4.58 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Luis Ortiz (0-0, 40.50)

Shields gave up at least six runs for the sixth time in 2018 during Saturday's loss to the Los Angeles Angels, surrendering six and nine hits - including a pair of home runs - over 4 1/3 innings. The 2011 All-Star was enjoying one of his best stretches of the season over his previous six turns, going 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA in that span. Adam Jones (14-for-50) and Jonathan Villar (3-for-7) have homered against Shields, who is 7-2 with a 3.81 ERA in 13 career starts in Baltimore.

Ortiz was roughed up in his major-league debut at Tampa Bay on Friday, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks while recording only two outs in a relief appearance. The 22-year-old, who was acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline in a four-player deal involving Jonathan Schoop, went 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in six outings with Triple-A Norfolk prior to being recalled this month. Ortiz went 5-5 with a 3.70 ERA in the minors this season and is 20-22 with a 3.25 ERA in 88 games (76 starts) over his minor-league career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Anderson needs one more home run to become the first White Sox shortstop with at least 20 blasts and 20 stolen bases in a single season.

2. Baltimore 1B Trey Mancini is batting .337 in 22 home games since the All-Star break.

3. Chicago has struck out a major league-high and club-record 1,412 times this season.

PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Orioles 3