Reds at White Sox
The Cincinnati Reds are frequent visitors to Chicago, but rarely to the South Side. The Reds made an atypical trip to the other side of town to face the White Sox in a three-game series beginning Friday.
The Reds are coming off a 7-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday, but they took two of three from the Pirates and have won six of their last 10. The White Sox also dropped the finale of their series with Detroit on Thursday after winning the first two contests. Cincinnati hasn't fared well against the White Sox, who lead the all-time series 14-3 and have won 11 of the past 12 meetings, but the teams haven't faced off since 2009. Reds right-hander Jason Marquis makes his second career start at U.S. Cellular Field, where he had a disastrous outing in 2006 in which he allowed a career-high 13 runs — all earned — and 14 hits in five innings while pitching for St. Louis.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), CSN Chicago Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Jason Marquis (3-1, 5.22 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Hector Noesi (0-3, 6.75)
Marquis has won three straight starts and recorded consecutive quality starts. The 36-year-old held Atlanta to three runs over 6 1/3 innings last time out to earn the win after limiting Milwaukee to two runs over eight innings in his previous outing. Marquis is 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts against the White Sox, but he hasn't faced them since 2008.
Noesi has been roughed up in three starts this season, allowing 11 runs over 14 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old has made it through the fifth inning only once and has been hampered by walks and home runs. Noesi has faced the Reds only once, in a relief stint in 2011, and allowed six earned runs and eight hits in 1 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago SS Alexei Ramirez has been stuck on 99 career home runs since Sept. 13 of last season, a drought spanning 159 plate appearances.
2. Cincinnati 3B Todd Frazier belted his NL-best 10th home run Thursday and has five in his last eight games.
3. White Sox DH Adam LaRoche has reached safely in six straight games while RF Avisail Garcia has recorded an RBI in five consecutive contests.