-1745819772711.png){kind=logo}
Manager: Robin Ventura, third year
Record: 35-41
Last 10 games: 2-8
Who to watch: 1B Jose Abreu (.270/.320/.598, 21 HR, 57 RBIs); 3B Conor Gillaspie (.338/.383/.446, 19 XBH, 26 RBIs); LHP Chris Sale (6-1, 2.20 ERA, 0.75 WHIP); LHP Jose Quintana (3-7, 3.87 ERA, 75 K)
Season series vs. O's (2013): 3-4, 18 runs scored, 21 runs allowed
Pitching probables
June 23: Chris Sale vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN HD
June 24: Jose Quintana vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD
June 25: Hector Noesi vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 7 p.m., MASN HD
Series breakdown
Only looking at the White Sox's record sells them short.
Chicago visits Baltimore as perhaps the coldest team in baseball, having lost eight of its last 10 and 11 of its last 15 since last moving above .500 at 31-30 on June 4. That has tumbled the White Sox into last place in the American League Central and seven games behind the division-leading Tigers.
But Chicago's standing masks its danger factor as a serious offensive threat with some weapons on the mound.
The wide splits between the White Sox's wins and losses during their current funk illustrate that well. In their four wins over the last 15 games, Chicago has outscored opponents 29-15. In the 11 losses, it has been outscored 63-31. So Chicago has looked like two completely different teams in its wins and losses of late.
The significant difference in averages over the last 15 games: 7.3 runs for in the four wins vs. 2.8 runs for in the 11 losses; 3.8 runs against in the four wins vs. 5.7 runs against in the 11 losses.
So on one night, the White Sox are primed to pound you and keep your bats quiet, and the next they're unable to do much at the plate while letting you circle the bases.
That being said, there are plenty of reasons this series is a must-watch.
The Orioles get their first look at baseball's most exciting newcomer - Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu. The 27-year-old Cuban defector leads the AL with a .598 slugging percentage while ranking third in the majors with 21 homers and fifth with 57 RBIs. Think of where he might be if he hadn't had a stint on the disabled list. In 18 games since returning from the DL on June 2, he has a .943 OPS with six homers and 15 RBIs.
Third baseman Conor Gillaspie has also been a spark plug, batting .338 with an .829 OPS and 26 RBIs in 52 games. Designated hitter Adam Dunn has contributed 12 homers and 33 RBIs while shortstop Alexei Ramirez has chipped in 36 RBIs.
Overall, the White Sox haven't been hurting on offense despite their recent woes, still ranking fifth in the AL with 333 runs, seventh with 75 homers and eighth with a .256 average.
Pitching has been more of a problem for Chicago, which has the AL's worst rotation with a 4.77 starters' ERA, ranks 14th with a 4.39 team ERA and eighth with a 3.73 bullpen ERA.
The Orioles do have a tough starting draw over the first two games of the series with a spectacular duel between southpaws ahead in tonight's series opener.
White Sox lefty Chris Sale goes up against O's left-hander Wei-Yin Chen this evening, meaning runs could be at a premium. Sale doesn't have enough innings to qualify among baseball's ERA leaders because of time missed with a flexor muscle strain, but he would be fifth in the majors with his 2.20 ERA. He is 6-1 in 10 starts. Chen, on the other hand, is 7-2 with a 3.78 ERA overall and 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in seven home starts this season.
The White Sox start lefty Jose Quintana against right-hander Miguel Gonzalez in the second game of the series. Quintana has a 3.87 ERA and 11 quality starts in 15 outings this season.
Even though the White Sox have struggled of late, they look like one of baseball's best when they're on.
The O's, who enter the series 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East, have an opportunity to reclaim the division's top spot with the Yankees and first-place Blue Jays meeting at the same time. But it could be a tough three days ahead.
Opposite dugout: Struggling White Sox remain formidable foe with Abreu, Sale
By Josh Land
Manager: Robin Ventura, third year
Record: 35-41
Last 10 games: 2-8
Who to watch: 1B Jose Abreu (.270/.320/.598, 21 HR, 57 RBIs); 3B Conor Gillaspie (.338/.383/.446, 19 XBH, 26 RBIs); LHP Chris Sale (6-1, 2.20 ERA, 0.75 WHIP); LHP Jose Quintana (3-7, 3.87 ERA, 75 K)
Season series vs. O's (2013): 3-4, 18 runs scored, 21 runs allowed
Pitching probables
June 23: Chris Sale vs. Wei-Yin Chen, 7 p.m., MASN HD
June 24: Jose Quintana vs. Miguel Gonzalez, 7 p.m., MASN HD
June 25: Hector Noesi vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, 7 p.m., MASN HD
Series breakdown
Only looking at the White Sox's record sells them short.
Chicago visits Baltimore as perhaps the coldest team in baseball, having lost eight of its last 10 and 11 of its last 15 since last moving above .500 at 31-30 on June 4. That has tumbled the White Sox into last place in the American League Central and seven games behind the division-leading Tigers.
But Chicago's standing masks its danger factor as a serious offensive threat with some weapons on the mound.
The wide splits between the White Sox's wins and losses during their current funk illustrate that well. In their four wins over the last 15 games, Chicago has outscored opponents 29-15. In the 11 losses, it has been outscored 63-31. So Chicago has looked like two completely different teams in its wins and losses of late.
The significant difference in averages over the last 15 games: 7.3 runs for in the four wins vs. 2.8 runs for in the 11 losses; 3.8 runs against in the four wins vs. 5.7 runs against in the 11 losses.
So on one night, the White Sox are primed to pound you and keep your bats quiet, and the next they're unable to do much at the plate while letting you circle the bases.
That being said, there are plenty of reasons this series is a must-watch.
The Orioles get their first look at baseball's most exciting newcomer - Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu. The 27-year-old Cuban defector leads the AL with a .598 slugging percentage while ranking third in the majors with 21 homers and fifth with 57 RBIs. Think of where he might be if he hadn't had a stint on the disabled list. In 18 games since returning from the DL on June 2, he has a .943 OPS with six homers and 15 RBIs.
Third baseman Conor Gillaspie has also been a spark plug, batting .338 with an .829 OPS and 26 RBIs in 52 games. Designated hitter Adam Dunn has contributed 12 homers and 33 RBIs while shortstop Alexei Ramirez has chipped in 36 RBIs.
Overall, the White Sox haven't been hurting on offense despite their recent woes, still ranking fifth in the AL with 333 runs, seventh with 75 homers and eighth with a .256 average.
Pitching has been more of a problem for Chicago, which has the AL's worst rotation with a 4.77 starters' ERA, ranks 14th with a 4.39 team ERA and eighth with a 3.73 bullpen ERA.
The Orioles do have a tough starting draw over the first two games of the series with a spectacular duel between southpaws ahead in tonight's series opener.
White Sox lefty Chris Sale goes up against O's left-hander Wei-Yin Chen this evening, meaning runs could be at a premium. Sale doesn't have enough innings to qualify among baseball's ERA leaders because of time missed with a flexor muscle strain, but he would be fifth in the majors with his 2.20 ERA. He is 6-1 in 10 starts. Chen, on the other hand, is 7-2 with a 3.78 ERA overall and 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in seven home starts this season.
The White Sox start lefty Jose Quintana against right-hander Miguel Gonzalez in the second game of the series. Quintana has a 3.87 ERA and 11 quality starts in 15 outings this season.
Even though the White Sox have struggled of late, they look like one of baseball's best when they're on.
The O's, who enter the series 1 1/2 games out of first place in the AL East, have an opportunity to reclaim the division's top spot with the Yankees and first-place Blue Jays meeting at the same time. But it could be a tough three days ahead.
