White Sox at Yankees
The Chicago White Sox won two of three in each of the first two series on its nine-game road trip, but repeating the feat will be a difficult task as they visit the red-hot New York Yankees on Monday for the opener of a three-game set. New York is riding a winning streak that reached seven games with Sunday's 9-3 triumph over St. Louis.
Four players recorded two RBIs for the Yankees - including Aaron Hicks, who belted his third homer in eight games this season after hitting only eight in 123 contests last year. Chicago's trek began in Cleveland and continued in Minnesota, where it returned the favor after losing two of three to the Twins at home the previous weekend. Avisail Garcia was the hero for the White Sox in Sunday's 3-1 victory, going 4-for-5 with a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning. The 25-year-old Venezuelan began the season with a nine-game hitting streak that ended with an 0-for-3 effort on Saturday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), YES (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Derek Holland (1-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. Yankees LH Jordan Montgomery (0-0, 3.86)
Holland's career with the White Sox has begun with a pair of quality starts, including a victory at Cleveland on Wednesday in which he allowed one hit over six scoreless innings. The 30-year-old native of Ohio, who spent his first eight major-league seasons with Texas, did walk four batters - his highest total since issuing five free passes to Seattle on Sept. 20, 2015. Holland has not fared well against New York, going 1-6 with a 6.59 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) - although the victory was a complete-game shutout.
Montgomery will be taking his second turn in the Yankees' rotation after starting only two of his six appearances in spring training, where he went 1-0 with one save, a 3.20 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old from South Carolina made his major-league debut Wednesday against Tampa Bay but did not factor in the decision after allowing three runs - two earned - and five hits in 4 2/3 frames. Montgomery walked two batters, hit another and served up a home run while registering seven strikeouts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Garcia leads the major leagues with a .465 batting average.
2. New York DH Matt Holliday has missed two games with a stiff lower back and is day-to-day.
3. Chicago will activate former Yankees OF Melky Cabrera from paternity leave on Monday and option OF Willy Garcia to Triple-A Charlotte.