Orioles at White Sox
The Baltimore Orioles hope to continue riding Chris Davis' eye-popping season when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Thursday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Davis belted his major league-leading 32nd home run and later delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in Baltimore's 4-2 victory Wednesday. Davis, whose 83 RBIs are two behind major-league leader Miguel Cabrera of Detroit, has four homers and nine RBIs in his last four games.
While Baltimore has won five of its last six games to remain within striking distance of first-place Boston in the American League East, Chicago has dropped six of seven to fall further into the AL Central cellar. Also, White Sox slugger Paul Konerko was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained lower back. Baltimore's Zach Britton won two of three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and will oppose Jose Quintana, who received no-decisions in all six June outings.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Baltimore), Comcast SportsNet Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Zach Britton (2-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (3-2, 3.97)
Britton has yet to reach six innings since being promoted after allowing two runs (one earned) and six hits in 5 2/3 frames in an 11-3 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday. The 25-year-old, who is 18-16 in 44 major-league games (43 starts), cut his ERA in half this season after allowing six runs in as many innings in his first start April 29. Britton is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts - one each in 2012 and 2011 - against Chicago.
Quintana allowed five runs (four earned) and five hits in six innings in the White Sox's 9-8 loss to Cleveland on Friday. The 24-year-old Colombian, who has yielded 88 hits in 93 innings while recording a 1.26 WHIP, has a 4.33 ERA over his last six outings while recording only one quality start during that span. Quintana allowed five runs and seven hits - including two home runs - in a 5-3 loss at Baltimore last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez has played every inning this season and is the only player to do so, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
2. Chicago placed RHP Jesse Crain (strained right shoulder) on the 15-day disabled list. The White Sox called up LHP David Purcey and recalled Brent Morel from Triple-A Charlotte.
3. Chicago RF Alex Rios recorded his 200th career stolen base Wednesday.