Athletics at White Sox
Oakland's Matt Chapman entered Friday 2-for-47 in his last 13 games but the slugging third baseman could be ready to bust out of his slump as the Athletics visit the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in the middle contest of three-game series. Chapman, whose previous two hits were home runs, belted his career-high 25th homer of the season as part of a two-hit performance in Oakland's 7-0 victory Friday afternoon.
The Athletics, who have won eight of 11, remain one-half game behind Tampa Bay for the final American League wild card spot after the Rays' 5-3 victory at Seattle later Friday. Oakland (66-50) has dominated the AL Central this season, going 16-4 with a plus-61 run differential to include 4-0 and plus-23 against Chicago. The White Sox didn't endure a 1-2-3 inning for 39 frames prior to a three-up, three-down first inning Friday - the third-longest streak in the majors since 1974, according to STATS. Tanner Roark takes the ball Saturday as he comes off a successful debut with the Athletics and opposes Reynaldo Lopez, who has pitched well since the All-Star break.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Tanner Roark (7-7, 4.14 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Reynaldo Lopez (6-9, 5.41)
Roark allowed one run - a solo homer to Paul DeJong - four hits and two walks with six strikeouts over five innings of a 4-2 victory over St. Louis on Sunday in his first start since he was acquired from Cincinnati. The 32-year-old Illinois native has a 1.41 WHIP and .270 batting average against with 114 strikeouts across 115 1/3 innings this season. Roark has never faced the White Sox.
Lopez yielded three runs, seven hits and three walks over 5 1/3 innings of a 10-5 victory at Philadelphia on Sunday. The 25-year-old Dominican is 2-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings over his last five starts. The Athletics' roster is hitting .167 against Lopez, who is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA lifetime in two starts against Oakland after yielding an unearned run across six innings and recording a no-decision in a 3-2 loss July 14.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago SS Tim Anderson went 2-for-3 on Friday and is 16-for-35 with seven runs scored during an eight-game hitting streak.
2. Oakland is eight for its last 19 pinch hitting with two home runs, eight RBIs and three walks.
3. White Sox OF-INF Leury Garcia extended his on-base streak to 19 games by going 1-for-4 on Friday.