A pair of teams from the American League continue their weekend series on the diamond down in the Lone Star State. The Chicago White Sox are on the road as they play the second game of a four-game series with the Texas Rangers Friday night. Chicago won the rubber game of their three-game series at home with the Royals, prevailing 4-1 in the finale of the series Wednesday afternoon. Texas was swept at home by Baltimore as they were beaten 6-3 in the finale Wednesday afternoon. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the series Thursday night.
Chicago won their second straight as they took the rubber game of their three-game series against the Royals at home amidst the raindrops Wednesday afternoon. The White Sox entered Thursday night third in the AL Central race, two games behind the Twins for the division lead. They were two games behind the Rays for the final wild card spot in the American League. On Wednesday, Chicago got three hits from Eloy Jimenez (run) while Andrew Vaughn (run), Josh Harrison and Jose Abreu (run, three RBI) each added a pair of hits in the contest. Abreu hit his 14th homer of the season in the contest. Lance Lynn (2-4) earned the win as he threw six innings, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and eight strikeouts. Liam Hendriks worked the ninth, striking out one, for his 21st save.
Dylan Cease is on the mound for the White Sox as he makes his 22nd start of the season in t his contest. He comes in 11-4 with a 2.01 ERA, a 1.174 WHIP, 50 walks and 161 strikeouts over 116.2 innings of work on the year. Cease picked up the win in his last start, which came in the Sunday at home against the A’s. He threw six innings, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in a 4-1 White Sox victory. In his last three starts, Cease is 3-0 with a 0.47 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP, four walks and 19 strikeouts over 19 innings of work. Cease makes his fourth career start against the Rangers in this contest. He is 2-0 with a 3.14 ERA, a 1.186 WHIP, six walks and 24 strikeouts over 14.1 innings of work against them. In his lone start at Globe Life Field, he came up a winner back on September 17, 2021. Cease threw five scoreless innings, allowing four hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts in an 8-0 White Sox victory.