Although the Chicago White Sox went 6-3 over nine games heading into their series with the Cleveland Guardians, a Chicago loss in the opening game draws the two teams even atop the AL Central. With three games left to go, someone will be leaving this series with a lead in the divisional race.
Last night, the White Sox held a lead going into the bottom of the ninth, but a Grant Taylor slip-up now makes the next three games crucial for Chicago. With plenty of resentment over how the game ended, the White Sox will look to get the bats rolling early.
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They face an uphill battle to do so, with Gavin Williams taking the bump for the Guardians. While he did post a 6.04 ERA in the month of June, Williams still comes into the game with a 9-4 record and a 3.81 ERA. He faced off against the White Sox on June 22 and went five innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits.
That game ended up being a back-and-forth contest, much like last night, and was closer than it should have been due to a faulty White Sox bullpen. Unlike last night, on June 22 the White Sox came up with magic late, thanks to a Sam Antonacci single in the bottom of the ninth to steal a win from the jaws of defeat.
On the bump for the White Sox is Anthony Kay, the same pitcher who matched up against Williams in that game. While he was not rewarded with the win Kay pitched a gem, going six innings and allowing just three hits and no runs.
Unfortunately, it’s been a turbulent campaign for Kay, who posted a 6.35 ERA in the month of June after going 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA in the May. With that in mind, three of his starts came against the high-powered offenses of the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.
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Both starters are more than capable of shutting the other team down, and it would seem unlikely that one outshines the other. Whether White Sox fans like it or not, this game will probably come down to who has the better bullpen tonight. With no margin for error for either side and the White Sox looking to avoid a three-game losing streak as well, this July game will certainly have more of a playoff atmosphere than normal.
Here is the starting lineup for the Chicago White Sox:
Here is the starting lineup for the Cleveland Guardians:
First pitch is 6:10 p.m. CST. You can watch on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000. Let us know your thoughts and predictions below!
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