Athletics at White Sox (Game 2)
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: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (0-2, 2.45 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.19)
Bassitt, who is making his third start of the season for Oakland, is just 2-13 all-time in 31 career appearances (25 starts). The 29-year-old lasted just four innings in his last outing as he gave up six runs - two earned - and seven hits in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Bassitt came away without a decision in his lone career start against the White Sox after allowing four runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 frames on April 5, 2016.
Giolito has dropped three of his last four decisions and has an unsightly 8.75 ERA over his past five outings. The 23-year-old has served up seven homers during the stretch after allowing just four over his first nine turns. Giolito, who never has faced Oakland, has struggled at home as he is 1-4 with a 11.05 ERA in seven starts at Guaranteed Rate Field.
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.