Rangers at White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have already done something three games into their current homestand they could not do in any of their first three: win multiple games. The White Sox set their sights on accomplishing another season first Sunday when they attempt to secure a home series victory against the Texas Rangers in the finale of their four-game set.
Chicago entered this series going 1-5 in each of its first three extended stays at Guaranteed Rate Field and fell to a majors-worst 4-16 at home following a 12-5 loss to Texas on Friday, but Jose Abreu continued his torrid hitting stretch by going 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs in Saturday's 5-3 triumph. The victory gave the White Sox only their third win in 12 games against American League West competition and multiple wins over some other opponent besides Kansas City (5-2). The Rangers blew an early three-run advantage to continue a troubling early-season trend, as they have only four comeback victories versus 11 losses in games in which they have held a lead. Texas has dropped five of seven overall since winning three of four to fall 11 games out of first place - 6 1/2 games behind any of its division rivals.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Mike Minor (3-2, 5.61 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (0-3, 3.50)
Two of Minor's worst two outings of the season have come in his most recent trips to the mound, including Tuesday's no-decision in Seattle in which he gave up a season-high six runs while working a season-low 3 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old was tagged for five runs and a season-high three homers over seven frames one week earlier in a loss to Detroit. Minor's lone career start against Chicago came back in 2013, but he allowed only one run in five relief appearances spanning 5 2/3 innings last year versus the White Sox.
Lopez languished through one of the worst outings of his career Tuesday in Pittsburgh, surrendering a career high-tying six runs on seven hits and a pair of walks while recording only six outs. It was a big step back for the 24-year-old Dominican, who had not pitched fewer than five innings or allowed more than two earned runs in six of his first seven turns. Lopez's first and only start against Texas didn't go much better than his most recent outing, as he gave up six runs across 4 1/3 innings in a loss last August.
WALK-OFFS
1. Abreu, who is batting .412 with seven doubles, two homers and 12 RBIs over the last 13 games, recorded his 300th extra-base hit in his 655th game Saturday - the second-fastest to reach that mark in club history.
2. After driving in four runs over his previous 14 contests, Texas SS Jurickson Profar has five RBIs over his last two.
3. Chicago LHP Jace Fry worked a perfect 1 1/3 innings in relief Saturday and has yet give up a hit in 7 1/3 frames over six appearances this season.