White Sox at Yankees
The New York Yankees' positive feelings after a series sweep in which they scored 29 runs were diminished after they surrendered 18 to find themselves swept away in their last set. The Yankees look to get back on track Friday when they begin a nine-game homestand with the opener of a three-game set versus the struggling Chicago White Sox.
"We got to tighten up a little bit, play a little bit better, but I believe we are really close to turning the corner ... this is a little bump in the road," New York manager Aaron Boone said following Wednesday's 8-6 loss to Houston. Luke Voit went deep for the second straight contest and extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-run homer in the eighth inning against the Astros. Chicago, which has limped out to its worst start to a season since 1997, has been outscored 45-14 during its five-game losing skid to send its team ERA skyrocketing to a league-worst 6.94. Tim Anderson had a pair of singles in Wednesday's 9-1 setback versus Tampa Bay to improve to 15-for-25 with two homers, five RBIs and seven runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), WPIX (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (1-1, 5.73 ERA) vs. Yankees LH J.A. Happ (0-1. 6.48)
Giolito took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his first start but failed to get out of the fifth in the other, allowing five runs on six hits with four walks in a 9-2 setback versus Seattle. The 24-year-old, who will be making his first appearance at Yankee Stadium, was shelled for seven runs on six hits -- including Giancarlo Stanton's grand slam -- in five innings of a 7-3 setback against New York on Aug. 8. Aaron Hicks (back) joined Stanton (biceps) by going deep in that game, although both won't be a factor on Friday against Giolito, who has limited the Yankees' current crop of batters to a 4-for-19 performance at the plate with seven strikeouts.
Happ has yet to work out of the fifth inning in a pair of starts this season and has been taken deep three times, including once in a no-decision at Baltimore on Saturday. "It's kind of the game now," the 36-year-old said of the bullpen trend. "... I definitely think later on, I'll be out there to finish that inning." Happ owns a 4-2 mark with a 3.86 ERA in six career starts versus Chicago, with Anderson batting 6-for-10 with a solo homer against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago CF Leury Garcia has 10 hits and six runs scored in his last six games while LF Eloy Jimenez has 10 hits in his last seven.
2. New York LH CC Sabathia will come off the injured list to make his first start of the season on Saturday, Boone announced.
3. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu is 0-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last three games.