(Photo: Mastery of Maps/flickr)
After a much needed off day, the A’s will begin a 6-game road trip tonight against the Chicago White Sox (60-50) tonight. These 2 teams last faced off in April, when the A’s took 2 out of 3 against them at the Coliseum. The White Sox are looking to put distance between them and the Detroit Tigers as they lead the AL Central, but only by 1 game.
Friday 5:10 PM PST: (RHP) Brandon McCarthy (6-3) Vs (RHP) Gavin Floyd (8-9)
- Brandon McCarthy will be making his first start since June 19th. McCarthy’s last start was against the the Los Angeles Dodgers and he held them to only 2 hits over 7 innings while walking 1 and striking out 5. McCarthy did not face the White Sox in April, but has faced them twice in his career. Over those 2 starts he allowed 5 runs (4 earned) over 12 innings struck out 9 and walked 2.
- Gavin Floyd was shaky in his last start against the Angels, allowing 5 runs on 8 hits, 3 walks while striking out 6. Floyd faced the A’s back in April and lasted 7.1. innings while only allowing 2 hits, 1 run, walked 2 and struck out 6.
Saturday 4:10 PM PST: (LHP) Tom Milone (9-9) Vs (LHP) Francisco Liriano (0-0)
- Tom Milone has struggled as of late and his last start against the Toronto Blue Jays was no exception. Milone allowed 9 hits, 6 runs to the Jays, walked 1 and struck out 4. He faced the White Sox earlier this season and held them to 3 hits over 8 innings while walking none and striking out 5.
- Francisco Liriano had to be pulled from his last outing after the fifth inning when he was hit by a grounder in the right quad. Over 5 innings he allowed 4 hits, 1 run, walked 1 and struck out 4. Liriano faced the A’s twice this season with the Twins, he has held them to 4 runs over 14 innings, striking out 24 and walking 3.
Sunday 11:10 PM PST: (RHP) Jarrod Parker (7-6) Vs (LHP) Chris Sale (13-3)
- Like Tom Milone, Jarrod Parker has also struggled recently. In his last start against the Angels, Parker allowed 9 hits, 4 runs, walked 1 and struck out 6 over 6.2 innings. This will be Parker’s first career start against the Chicago White Sox.
- Chris Sale has been having a great year as a starter for the White Sox. In his last start he held the Kansas City Royals to 8 hits, 2 runs, walked none and struck out 7 over 8 innings. Sale faced the A’s in April and lasted 8 innings, allowed 6 hits, 2 runs, walked none and struck out 5.
Keys to Success:
It’s another series that won’t come easy to the A’s, especially when it comes to facing one of the toughest left-handed pitchers in the game right now. They are going to have to figure out both Liriano and Sale if they want to at least take the series from the White Sox. Milone and Parker will both be looking for bounce back starts this series, which will not come easy as the White Sox have one of the better offenses in baseball.
For more on the Chicago White Sox, visit South Side Hit Girl.
