Chicago @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 8, Baltimore 6
The Baltimore Orioles hit another low point in their disastrous season, becoming the 15th team in major-league history to lose 105 of their first 147 games. The Chicago White Sox have won two straight following a seven-game slide and look to fatten the Orioles' loss total when the teams resume their three-game series Saturday night in Baltimore.
Omar Narváez and Avisail Garcia each belted two-run homers as the White Sox built a big lead and held on for an 8-6 victory in the series opener. Rookie Ryan Cordell started his major-league career 0-for-15 before ending the drought in style with a solo homer that provided a late insurance run for Chicago. Trey Mancini hit a pair of solo homers for Baltimore, boosting his season total to 23 -- one shy of matching his career best from last year. Corban Joseph added a two-run single for the Orioles that doubled his RBI total from his first 10 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo López (5-9, 4.22 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Yefry Ramírez (1-5, 5.94)
Since giving up 21 runs in losing his final four starts in July, Lopez is unbeaten in his last eight appearances, permitting two runs or fewer six times in that span. He matched his season high with 10 strikeouts and tossed six scoreless innings of two-hit ball in a no-decision versus the Angels on Sunday. Lopez was rocked for six runs (four earned) in 2 2/3 innings in his lone start versus Baltimore in 2016.
Ramirez will make his first start since Aug. 19, when he was battered by the Oakland Athletics for seven runs on seven hits and five walks in three-plus innings. The 24-year-old Dominican made his last four appearances in relief, not allowing a run in three of them. Ramirez has much better numbers at home, posting a 1-2 record, 3.24 ERA and .223 batting average against in eight appearances (five starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox 2B Yoán Moncada had three hits Friday and has reached safely in 21 of his last 22 games.
2. Orioles 1B Chris Davis is 1-for-19 in his last five games.
3. White Sox RH Nate Jones earned his fifth save of the year and first since May 22.
PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Orioles 3