White Sox at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays will try to break out of a dismal offensive slump when they begin a three-game series with the visiting Chicago White Sox on Friday. A 9-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday extended the Blue Jays' losing streak to five games, during which they've managed a total of eight runs - five of which came in the first game of the slide
"We did not frigging play good baseball the past three days," manager Charlie Montoyo told reporters Wednesday after the team's eighth loss in nine games. "We got hit, we didn't hit. Thank God tomorrow's a day off because here we frigging go. We're going to keep (expletive) working hard at it. That's all I've got." Regulars Freddy Galvis, Randal Grichuk, Justin Smoak and Rowdy Tellez are a combined 12-for-69 with 21 strikeouts during the losing streak, while heralded rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 2-for-14 in the first four games before sitting out Wednesday's defeat. The White Sox opened their road trip by splitting four games at Cleveland, including a 5-0 rain-shortened loss Thursday afternoon. They'll give the ball to Dylan Covey on Friday opposite fellow right-hander Clay Buchholz for Toronto.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Sportsnet 1 (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Covey (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Clay Buchholz (0-2, 6.57)
Covey was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte near the end of April and made his first start of the year against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings. He made two relief appearances for the White Sox earlier this season before appearing in five games (three starts) in the minors. The 27-year-old, who is 5-22 in his career in the majors, will be facing the Blue Jays for the first time.
Since a solid debut against Tampa Bay on April 13, Buchholz has endured a rocky four-start stretch in which he is 0-2 with an 8.20 ERA. He lasted a season-low four innings and gave up a season-high seven runs in a loss at Texas his last time out. Yonder Alonso is 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles against the 34-year-old Buchholz, who is 11-4 with a 2.77 ERA in his career at Rogers Centre.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox OF Leury Garcia (thumb) went 0-for-2 on Thursday after being used only as a defensive replacement in the previous two games.
2. Guerrero is 6-for-37 with 11 strikeouts since his much-anticipated promotion last month.
3. Toronto has won each of the last three series between the teams.