Athletics at White Sox (Game 1)
The Oakland Athletics have matched their season-best winning streak of four games as they enter a doubleheader with the host Chicago White Sox on Friday. While Oakland is enjoying a good run, the White Sox have equaled their longest slide of the campaign with seven straight losses entering the four-game series.
The teams are playing a doubleheader after Thursday's series opener was postponed by rain. The Athletics have scored 28 runs during their winning streak and put on an impressive power display by hitting five homers in Wednesday's 12-4 drubbing of San Diego. Chicago has allowed 41 runs during its skid and was hammered 24-5 by Cleveland in a three-game road set earlier this week. The seven-game losing streak is the third of the year for the White Sox, who are a season-worst 25 games below .500.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Sean Manaea (6-6, 3.56 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (2-8, 4.63)
Manaea defeated the Los Angeles Angels in his last turn after being winless in his previous five starts. The 26-year-old has served up at least one homer in each of his last nine turns and has allowed 14 blasts in 15 starts after giving up 18 in 29 outings last season. Manaea, who never has faced the White Sox, is 3-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven road starts this year.
Shields has lost eight of his last nine decisions after winning his first start of the season. The 36-year-old has worked at least six innings in each of his last 11 outings and 13 of 15 overall. Shields lost in relief at Oakland earlier this season to fall to 6-7 with a 4.86 ERA in 19 career appearances (18 starts) against the Athletics.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics scored 30 runs in a three-game home sweep of the White Sox in April.
2. Chicago SS Tim Anderson is batting .175 with 22 strikeouts this month.
3. Oakland DH Khris Davis (stomach illness) is expected back in the lineup after a one-game absence.