Athletics at White Sox
The Oakland Athletics will try to rebound from a frustrating loss when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Sunday for the rubber match of a three-game set. After rolling to a 7-0 victory in Friday's series opener, the Athletics left 13 men on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 3-2 loss Saturday.
Struggling slugger Khris Davis struck out with the bases loaded to end the contest as Oakland fell to 2-3 on its current road trip and a game out of a wild-card spot in the American League. The Athletics aim to get a big hit or two in the finale against White Sox All-Star Lucas Giolito, who is 6-1 with a 1.77 ERA in day games. Chicago picked up its first win in five tries against the Oakland this year with Saturday's triumph as rookie Eloy Jimenez launched his 19th home run and Welington Castillo delivered the decisive RBI with a single in the seventh. The White Sox will take aim at right-hander Chris Bassitt on Sunday as they attempt to win their third straight series.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (7-5, 3.80 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (12-5, 3.44)
Bassitt is 0-1 over his last three starts despite lasting six innings each time and allowing a total of six runs with 18 strikeouts and three walks. He threw six scoreless innings against the White Sox at home July 13. The University of Akron product is 5-2 with a 3.16 ERA in nine afternoon starts this year.
Giolito won for the first time in over a month with six innings of three-run ball at Detroit on Monday. It marked the fourth time in five turns since the All-Star break that the 25-year-old recorded a quality start. Matt Olson is 2-for-3 with a home run against Giolito, who won his only prior start versus Oakland in 2018 by allowing four runs in seven innings and striking out eight.
WALK-OFFS
1. The White Sox will honor Hall of Famer Harold Baines in a pregame ceremony Sunday.
2. Chicago CF Leury Garcia is 9-for-32 with five runs scored during a seven-game hitting streak.
3. Davis, who had 48 homers and 28 doubles in 2018, has just 25 extra-base hits on the year and none over his last eight games.