Rangers at White Sox
Yoan Moncada wasted little time making an impact after returning from a three-week stint on the injured list, further solidifying what already has been a breakout season. The 24-year-old Cuban attempts to fuel his team's offense again on Friday, when the Chicago White Sox host the Texas Rangers for the second contest of their four-game series.
After striking out Thursday in his first at-bat since landing on the injured list with a strained right hamstring at the end of last month, Moncada provided the highlight of Chicago's four-run third inning when he belted a two-run homer as the White Sox cruised to a 6-1 victory. The third baseman lifted his batting average to .303 (.235 in 2018) and already has hit four more shots than he did all of last season (17) despite logging 202 fewer at-bats. Texas entered this series having won three of four at home - all in walk-off fashion - but remained unable to solve its road woes or end its struggles at Guaranteed Rate Field, losing for the 11th time in its last 13 games at the venue. Elvis Andrus hit a solo home run to account for the only offense for the Rangers, who are 25-39 away from home.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Lance Lynn (14-8, 3.60 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Cease (2-6, 5.93)
Lynn is winless in his last three outings despite allowing a total of 12 hits over 17 innings and posting a 2.65 ERA over that span - a stretch that includes a no-decision against Minnesota on Sunday in which he yielded three runs over five frames. Control has been an issue for the former All-Star, who has issued multiple walks in six straight turns - including five versus the Twins. Welington Castillo is 9-for-15 with three home runs against Lynn, who beat the White Sox on June 22 despite giving up five runs over seven innings.
Cease lost for the sixth time in seven starts following Sunday's setback in Los Angeles after permitting five runs on seven hits - two homers - and a walk in five innings against the Angels. The 23-year-old rookie has served up at least one home run in each of his eight major-league starts and issued 21 walks in 44 frames. Cease, who is 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA in four turns at home, has allowed left-handed hitters to bat .338 as he faces Texas for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox SS Tim Anderson singled in four at-bats on Thursday to drop his batting average during his nine-game hitting streak to .462.
2. Andrus' homer gave him 1,692 hits with Texas, tying him with Rafael Palmeiro for third place on the club's all-time list.
3. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu, who is two hits shy of 1,000 for his career, needs two homers and three RBIs to become the fourth player in team history to record four 30/100 seasons.