Red Sox at White Sox
The Boston Red Sox have been trying to play catch-up since a miserable 11-game road trip to open the season, but they finally have built some momentum as they prepare to play their next seven away from home. After completing a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics, the reigning World Series champions will kick off a four-game series at the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.
Boston's offense finally has come alive, outscoring the Athletics 21-8 after coasting to a 7-3 victory in Wednesday's series finale. "It's a good start," said Mitch Moreland, who went deep in each of the last two games to boost his team-leading total to nine home runs. "We've got three under our belt, so that was a good series, good momentum for us to go back on the road." The Red Sox are only 6-10 on the road following the 3-8 start as they prepare to face Chicago, which has won four of five after rallying for a walk-off 7-6 victory over Baltimore on Wednesday night to salvage a doubleheader split. Red-hot Jose Abreu homered and drove in six runs in the twinbill and is 21-for-44 with 20 RBIs during a 10-game hitting streak.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH David Price (1-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (2-1, 5.30)
Price turned in his third consecutive solid outing but took the loss Saturday against Tampa Bay after giving up a pair of runs and four hits over six innings. He struck out 10 and permitted two runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Rays in his previous turn and earned his lone win with seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball versus Baltimore on April 14. Abreu has been flustered by going 3-for-21 against Price, who owns a 6-5 record and 3.39 ERA in 15 starts against the White Sox.
Giolito returns to the rotation for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury versus Kansas City on April 17, when he had struck out five over 2 2/3 innings before he was hurt. He had a pair of shaky outings in his previous two turns but picked up a win at Yankee Stadium despite allowing six runs (four earned) and walking four over five innings. Although he had a woeful 6.30 ERA in 2018, Giolito turned in a gem in his lone start against the Red Sox with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers is 11-for-27 during a seven-game hitting streak.
2. Abreu has multiple hits in six straight games, the longest string by a Chicago player since his six-game streak in April 2017.
3. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia (knee) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Portland.