Arizona Diamondbacks (56-67) vs. Chicago White Sox (63-61)
Plenty of playoff implications on the line when the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the Chicago White Sox to begin a three-game series on Friday. Arizona split a two-game set with Kansas City during the week, and are now 1-4 in their last five games entering this series. That moved the Diamondbacks 10.5 games behind San Diego for the final wildcard spot in the National League.
The Chicago White Sox were taking on the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, but this preview was written prior to the conclusion of that contest. Chicago is finding themselves fading, going 2-5 in their last seven heading into Thursday’s game. Chicago is now 4.5 games behind in the AL wildcard chase and 3.5 games behind Cleveland for the AL Central lead.
This is the first meeting between these clubs since 2017 when the Diamondbacks swept a three-game series in Arizona. The White Sox enter as the favorite at -180 with the odds set for the Diamondbacks at +150. The spread has Chicago trailing at +115 when giving up 1.5 runs while Arizona is at -135 when receiving 1.5 runs. The total is set at 8.5 (over: -115, under: -105).
The Arizona Diamondbacks saw themselves with a golden opportunity with two games against Kansas City during the week, but could only win one of those contests. They now continue their five-game, AL Central road trip. Arizona has been terrible on the road this season, 24-35.
The only man with a longer scoreless streak for the #Dbacks than @zacgallen23?
Brandon Webb. pic.twitter.com/hgenYQg8AI
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 25, 2022
Arizona has been a terrible hitting team on the road, batting .227 as a team, 25th overall. They have scored 242 runs, an average of 4.10 runs per game on the road. The Diamondbacks are 19th overall in runs per game at 4.36. They have been a little better in August, hitting .251 as a club with 99 runs scored in 22 games, an average of 4.5 runs per contest.
The Diamondbacks send left-hander Tommy Henry to the hill. Henry is 2-2 with a 3.57 ERA in his four starts since joining the club. Henry has been either spot on or struggling, alternating quality performances with mediocre ones. He gave up four runs in five innings in his Major League debut (August 3), then allowed one run in seven innings to Pittsburgh (August 9). In his t hird start, the left-hander allowed three runs in 5.1 innings but held St. Louis to one run in 5.1 innings in his last start. If this pattern continues, he is likely due for a tough outing.