Orioles at White Sox (Game 2)
The Chicago White Sox seek a season-high fourth straight victory when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday for a doubleheader due to the rainout of the middle contest of the three-game set on Tuesday. Chicago received homers from Tim Anderson and Yonder Alonso while recording a 5-3 triumph in the series opener.
James McCann went 3-for-5 with two doubles for the White Sox and has recorded four multi-hit performances in his last five contests - a stretch during which he is a torrid 11-for-23. Jose Abreu also is swinging a hot bat, recording two hits in the opener to improve to 17-for-35 over his last eight games. Baltimore pitchers are having trouble keeping the ball in the park as the two homers allowed on Monday increased the team's season total to a major league-high 73. The Orioles have scored just seven runs while going 0-4 on their six-game road trip and have dropped eight of their last 10 contests.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (4-1, 4.18 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Ivan Nova (0-3, 8.42)
Cashner defeated the White Sox on April 23, when he gave up one run and five hits over seven innings. The 32-year-old has won four consecutive decisions and has allowed a total of nine earned runs over his last five turns. Cashner is 2-2 with a 3.51 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against Chicago and has struggled against Abreu (6-for-11).
Nova was blasted by the Orioles when matched against Cashner last week as he surrendered nine runs and 11 hits over four innings. The 32-year-old has allowed just one run on two occasions but a total of 22 over his other three turns as opponents are batting .351 against him. Nova is 8-5 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 career appearances (18 starts) against Baltimore and has experienced difficulties with Chris Davis (12-for-38, five homers, 13 RBIs).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Orioles moved RHP Shawn Armstrong to the active roster after claiming him off waivers from Seattle on Sunday and optioned LHP Tanner Scott to Triple-A Norfolk.
2. Chicago RHP Ervin Santana (0-2, 9.45 ERA) has refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Charlotte and elected to become a free agent.
3. Baltimore RF Trey Mancini (finger) is expected to return to the lineup after a two-game absence.