Rays at White Sox
The Chicago White Sox try to avoid a sixth straight setback to start their home schedule when they host the rejuvenated Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series. The White Sox were swept in three by Detroit in their first series of the season at home and have dropped the first two contests against the Rays by a run, despite late rallies.
Chicago left runners at second and third base with none out in Monday's 5-4 loss and scored three times in the ninth the following day before succumbing 6-5 to start 0-5 at home for the first time since 1975. Former Tampa Bay right-hander James Shields will try to end the slide for the White Sox when he takes the mound Wednesday against rookie Yonny Chirinos, who makes his second straight start after coming out of the bullpen in his major-league debut. The Rays have held on for two straight wins after losing eight contests in a row as their offense continues to improve with a third consecutive double-figure hit total. Mallex Smith is 6-for-8 in the series for Tampa Bay and Kevin Kiermaier (foot) could return Wednesday after missing the last two games.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (1-0, 5.73)
Chirinos was outstanding in his first two major-league appearances, allowing four hits while striking out seven and walking just one over nine scoreless innings. The 24-year-old Venezuelan made his first start Thursday at Boston, using 54 pitches to get through five frames without recording a decision. The undrafted Chirinos was 12-5 with a 2.74 ERA in 23 appearances (22 starts) at Triple-A Durham last season, registering 120 strikeouts over 141 innings.
Shields yielded seven runs and 13 hits over 11 innings in his first two starts of the season, recording a win at Kansas City before settling for a no-decision at home against Detroit on Thursday. The 36-year-old Californian, who has registered just one strikeout and two walks in 2018, went 5-7 with a 5.23 ERA last season after earning only six wins while splitting 2016 between San Diego and Chicago. Carlos Gomez is 4-for-9 and Wilson Ramos has homered against Shields, who is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in three outings versus his former team.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay 2B Joey Wendle has gone 7-for-14 during his five-game hitting streak and has recorded an RBI in three straight contests.
2. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu belted a three-run homer in the ninth inning Tuesday and has gone deep seven times in 26 career games against the Rays.
3. Tampa Bay LHP Blake Snell worked six innings en route to victory on Tuesday, tying RHP Chris Archer for the longest stint by a Rays starter in the first 11 contests.