Chicago @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) Chi. White Sox 2, Baltimore 0
The Chicago White Sox are riding a three-game winning streak and are using a soft spot in the schedule to give their young team some momentum heading down the stretch. The White Sox will try to make it four in a row and finish off a three-game sweep when they visit the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.
Chicago is using this season as a springboard as the young players take over the roster, and right-hander Reynaldo Lopez once again proved he can be an important part of the future with seven scoreless innings in Saturday's 2-0 victory. Former top prospect Yoan Moncada is picking up his level of play at the end of the season as well, as the 23-year-old is 4-for-8 with two doubles and two runs scored in the series. The Orioles (42-104) are just beginning what could be a lengthy rebuilding cycle and sit 64 games under .500 after dropping 12 of their last 14 contests. Baltimore will try to avoid the sweep behind David Hess while going up against another of Chicago's promising young pitchers - right-hander Lucas Giolito.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (10-10, 5.76 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (3-10, 5.17)
Giolito is enjoying a strong finish to the season after a rocky start and turned in his fifth quality start in his last six outings at Kansas City on Monday. The California native yielded three runs and six hits in seven innings but did not factor in the decision in a game Chicago ended up losing 4-3. Giolito suffered through one of his worst starts of the season at Baltimore on May 24 when he was ripped for seven runs on six hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings.
Hess suffered the loss in each of his last two turns while allowing a total of 11 runs - six earned - and 16 hits in nine innings at Kansas City and Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old is doing a better job of keeping the ball in the yard and did not yield a homer in any of his last three starts after surrendering 16 in his first 15 games - 13 starts. Hess is seeing the White Sox for the first time in his career and is 2-3 with a 4.82 ERA at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis is 1-for-22 with 10 strikeouts over his last six games.
2. Chicago 1B/DH Matt Davidson (calf) returned from a four-game absence on Saturday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
3. Baltimore RHP Mychal Givens had a string of four hitless appearances come to an end when he surrendered a solo homer on Saturday.
PREDICTION: White Sox 6, Orioles 4