White Sox at Rangers
The Texas Rangers received a better performance on the mound to salvage a series split last time out and look to carry that over into a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox that begins Friday night. The Rangers had given up double-figure runs in three of four contests before Mike Minor tossed eight strong innings on the way to a 4-2 victory over Cleveland on Thursday afternoon.
Danny Santana had a pair of hits and an RBI in Thursday’s victory and is 10-for-21 over the last six games for Texas while teammate Elvis Andrus went 4-for-9 with a homer and two runs knocked in the past two contests. Ariel Jurado hopes to help the Rangers improve on a 26-14 home record when he takes the mound for the series opener and fellow right-hander Reynaldo Lopez hopes to turn his fortunes around when he gets the ball for the White Sox. Chicago, which is 15-20 on the road, has dropped three of its last four contests after splitting a pair of games against the cross city-rival Cubs to open the week and sits four games out in the race for the American League’s second wild card - 3 1/2 behind Texas. Leury Garcia (8-for-26) and Tim Anderson (8-for-27) each bring six-game hitting streaks into the series for the White Sox, who were 4-3 against the Rangers in 2018.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (4-7, 6.31 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (4-3, 4.23)
Lopez has struggled in four of his last five trips to the mound, including Saturday when he allowed five runs on six hits in a loss to the New York Yankees. The 25-year-old Dominican Republic native has given up at least one home run in seven straight starts and 10 longballs over 39 innings during that stretch. Rougned Odor is 3-for-7 versus Lopez, who went 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two starts against the Rangers last season.
Jurado was pounded for seven runs on nine hits over just three innings in a loss at Cincinnati after giving up three or fewer tallies in at least six innings during each of his previous four outings. The 23-year-old Panama native is 2-2 at home with a 3.10 ERA as opposed to 2-1 and 5.18, respectively, on the road. Jose Abreu is 2-for-2 with a double against Jurado, who permitted four runs over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Chicago last year.
WALK-OFFS
1. The White Sox recalled RHP Carson Fulmer and placed LHP Manny Banuelos (shoulder) on the 10-game injured list.
2. The Rangers designated veteran Drew Smyly for assignment Thursday while recalling fellow LHPs Kyle Bird and Locke St. John.
3. Chicago C James McCann is 7-for-18 with three homers and six RBIs in his last five contests.