Following a much-needed day off, the Chicago White Sox (5-8) will welcome the Baltimore Orioles (7-6) to the South Side of Chicago. The last time the Orioles took a trip to Chicago, they took three of four from the White Sox and held Chicago to seven runs in the four-game set. Considering how both teams are pitching right now, that doesn't seem likely this weekend. Friday's contest will be the only night game of the series, set for a 7:10 p.m. EST first pitch. Guaranteed Rate Field is hosting, and the weather is supposed to be nice when these teams get underway.
Holding Oakland to one run in game one of the series was expected. The Athletics entered the series against Baltimore with 27 runs through nine games and 11 of those came in one game. Oakland had already been shut out thrice this year. So, that the Orioles allowed them to score 23 runs over the final three games, eight twice and seven in the finale, should be alarming. They entered the game with a 5.37 ERA as a team and did nothing to make it seem like a fluke.
Fortunately, the offense proved capable of taking advantage of the schedule, scoring 29 runs over the four games to win three of them. They clubbed eight home runs and finished with a .895 OPS over the four games. Baltimore is third in runs scored, third in slugging percentage, and fourth in home runs hit after Thursday's game. They also have 19 steals, the most in the league, with a 95% success rate. Led by Adley Rutschman, they're a dangerous bunch.&# 13;
Whatta rutschMAN pic.twitter.com/19JkUnUSeS
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 13, 2023
Tyler Wells will start this game, in pursuit of better results after losing to the Yankees. He lasted 6.0 innings but allowed four runs, including a pair of homers. His first start this year was also on the road, and that time Wells threw 5.0 scoreless innings. Wells' only career appearance against the White Sox was in 2021 out of the bullpen, when he allowed three runs in 2.0 innings. 2022 was his first as a starting pitcher, and he finished with a 4.25 ERA.