Angels at White Sox
The Los Angeles Angels have gotten the better of the Chicago White Sox in recent years and will try to keep that trend alive when the two also-rans meet in the first of three games Friday in the Windy City. The Angels took three of four from the White Sox earlier this season and have won 16 of the 22 meetings, including a three-game sweep in their last visit to Chicago roughly a year ago.
Los Angeles enters this one on a sour note after seeing a five-run lead turn into a 10-6 loss at Oakland on Thursday afternoon. Mike Trout hit his 45th home run -two behind Troy Glaus' franchise mark for a season - and scored three times in the loss, the 11th in 13 games for the Angels. The White Sox rode the first complete game of Reynaldo Lopez's career to a 7-1 victory in Cleveland on Thursday to split a four-game set. They'll give the ball to ace Lucas Giolito in the series opener Friday, while Los Angeles turns to Dillon Peters.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Dillon Peters (3-2, 4.13 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (14-8, 3.30)
Peters received a no-decision after giving up three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. It was his longest start of the year and his second-longest outing after a 7 2/3-inning bulk relief outing at Cleveland on Aug. 2. The University of Texas product is taking on the White Sox for the first time.
Giolito entered Thursday's action tied for fifth in the American League in wins, sixth in strikeouts (210) and seventh in ERA. He has lost two straight starts after giving up four runs in six frames at Atlanta on Sunday. Trout has a home run, a sacrifice fly, two walks and was hit by a pitch in six plate appearances versus the 25-year-old Giolito, who defeated the Angels on the road last month while striking out 11 batters in six solid innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Trout was 6-for-11 with two home runs, four RBIs and six runs scored in three games against Chicago last month.
2. White Sox C Welington Castillo homered and doubled twice in Thursday's win and has seven RBIs over his last four games.
3. Chicago manager Rick Renteria will undergo surgery on his right rotator cuff Friday and will miss the series. Bench coach Joe McEwing will manage the team.