Orioles at White Sox
The Baltimore Orioles used the long ball to help avoid a third straight loss and look to even their record on their 11-game road trip when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Baltimore began its trek by dropping three of four in Boston but belted three homers at Chicago on Monday to post a 3-2 victory in the opener of the four-game series.
Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo and Adam Jones went deep in consecutive innings as the Orioles improved to 2-3 on this trip after going a combined 0-12 on their previous two treks. Machado, who has been the subject of trade rumors, launched a solo shot in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to five games. Chicago reached double digits in hits but was unable to match its season high of three straight wins. Jose Abreu and Leury Garcia each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, giving the former three multi-hit performances in his last four games and the latter back-to-back two-hit efforts.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (3-3, 3.88 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (1-4, 4.88)
After allowing fewer than three runs in six of his previous seven starts, Gausman was tagged for six on eight hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in a loss at Boston on Thursday. The 27-year-old native of Colorado has been hit hard of late, yielding 19 hits over 12 frames in his last two starts after giving up 11 over 22 2/3 innings in his previous three turns. Gausman has permitted three runs - two earned - and five hits over eight frames in one start and two relief appearances against Chicago in his career.
Shields looks to put together back-to-back strong starts for the first time this season after limiting Texas to one run and three hits over 7 1/3 innings in a no-decision on Thursday. Despite his struggles, the 36-year-old Californian has kept the ball in the park this year, serving up only four home runs in 55 1/3 frames. Shields owns an 11-8 record with one complete game and a 3.90 ERA in 27 career starts against Baltimore.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jones, who left Sunday's loss in Boston with an illness, has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games.
2. Chicago signed OF Michael Saunders to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Charlotte.
3. Baltimore LHP Zach Britton (Achilles) is expected to throw simulated games of one inning on Tuesday and two frames on Saturday.