White Sox at Rangers
Having already clinched their fifth straight series victory, the surging Texas Rangers aim for a sweep of the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Cole Hamels takes the mound for the Rangers, who have won 11 of their last 13 games and outscored the White Sox 24-7 over the first two contests of the set.
Joey Gallo and Ryan Rua homered for the Rangers in Saturday’s 13-4 victory while Robinson Chirinos extended his hitting streak to six games with two hits, including a three-run double. Shin-Soo Choo, who has a major league-best on-base streak of 41 games, was held out of the contest due to right quadriceps soreness and is listed as day-to-day. The White Sox dropped their fifth straight road game despite a solo homer from Avisail Garcia, who has three blasts in his last five contests and is 10-for-37 during his eight-game hitting streak. Matt Davidson entered Saturday in a 9-for-44 slump but went 3-for-4 with a double, a solo homer and two runs scored in his first three-hit performance since April 28.
TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (3-5, 3.73 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Cole Hamels (4-6, 3.61)
Manager Rick Renteria remains high on Lopez, who has allowed nine runs - eight earned - over 10 2/3 innings in his last two starts but has worked at least six frames in four of his last five outings. “He continues to improve and grind out innings and give us some starts that give us a chance,” Renteria told reporters. “He’s continuing to trust and know what he’s capable of doing.” The 24-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA in two career starts against Texas.
Hamels escaped with a no-decision against San Diego on Monday after yielding four runs and nine hits over five innings. The 34-year-old Californian allowed two homers in the contest and has served up a total of 20 in 16 starts covering 97 1/3 frames. Hamels has posted one victory in his last six outings but owns a 2-0 record and 2.86 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago is 6-13 against American League West opponents this season, including 0-5 on the road.
2. Texas LHP Martin Perez (elbow) tossed six scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco in his second rehab start on Saturday.
3. White Sox 3B Yolmer Sanchez returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the series opener with a bruised left quad and went 2-for-4 with an RBI.