Orioles at White Sox
The Baltimore Orioles came out of the gates strong last month for their new manager, but they have seemingly fallen back into their old habits since then with a couple of exceptions - one of which came versus the Chicago White Sox. The Orioles hope to halt a stretch during which they have dropped 18 of 24 beginning Monday when they visit Chicago for the opener of a three-game set against the White Sox.
Baltimore won four of its first five contests under rookie skipper Brandon Hyde before it started resembling the club that set a dubious franchise record last season with 115 losses. The Orioles, whose only series win since their season-opening six-game road trip took place last week at home against Chicago, enters this series after beginning another six-game trek by getting outscored 19-4 in a three-game sweep by Minnesota. The White Sox are 8-6 since a 3-8 start despite their slip-up in Baltimore, although their cause has been aided by playing eight games against struggling American League Central rivals Detroit and Kansas City over that span. Chicago built some positive momentum over the weekend with a two-game home sweep of the Tigers, including Sunday's 4-1 triumph in which White Sox pitchers tied a major-league record for nine innings by striking out a club-record 20 batters.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH John Means (3-2, 1.74 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Manny Banuelos (1-0, 2.51)
Means earned his first career win as a starter Wednesday in Chicago, holding the White Sox to one run while striking out six over five innings. The West Virginia product has allowed one earned run and four hits in each of his three turns after going 35-41 with a 3.83 ERA in 119 career minor-league appearances (114 starts). Jose Abreu (1-for-2, double) is the only White Sox player with an extra-base hit versus Means, who is limiting left-handed hitters to a .143 average.
Banuelos was sharp in his first start of the season at Baltimore despite not factoring into the decision last Monday, permitting five hits and fanning four in four scoreless frames. The 28-year-old performed well in four relief appearances prior to that this season, posting a 1-0 mark with a 3.48 ERA and holding opponents to a .212 average. Although he walked only one in his last outing, Banuelos has struggled with his control this season, issuing eight free passes over 14 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Orioles have surrendered a major-league high 71 home runs, 20 more than any other team. However, Chicago only hit two during last week's three-game set at Camden Yards.
2. Abreu is batting .462 versus the Orioles this season and .244 against every other opponent.
3. Baltimore OF Trey Mancini, who leads the AL with 39 hits, did not play Sunday with a bruised right index finger. Hyde categorized Mancini's status as day-to-day following the game.