Chicago White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde will try to extend his 13-inning scoreless streak on Monday afternoon in the opener of a three-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays.
The scoreless string has come over the past two starts in which Fedde (4-0, 2.60 ERA) has held hitters to a .192 batting average and a .208 on-base mark.
The White Sox will need another strong outing by Fedde after getting swept in three games by the host New York Yankees, including Sunday’s 7-2 loss against former White Sox starter Carlos Rodon.
Fedde is 2-0 with a 3.77 ERA in three career starts against Toronto.
The Blue Jays will try to parlay an encouraging win on Sunday into success against the White Sox as they strive to turn around a slow start.
Right-hander Alek Manoah delivered seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball in Sunday’s 5-2 home victory over the Tampa Bay Rays to avert a three-game sweep. Daniel Vogelbach, who has seen little action this season, hit a solo shot among his three hits.
“I think it’s huge for this team,” Manoah said. “Don’t want nobody to come into our house and sweep us. The biggest thing was going out there and setting the tone and getting a big win and get this thing rolling.”
The Blue Jays are scheduled to start right-hander Jose Berrios (4-3, 2.82) on Monday. He has posted solid numbers against the White Sox in his career, going 13-6 with a 3.11 ERA in 24 starts.
Fedde went seven innings in Tuesday’s 4-0 win against his former team, the Washington Nationals.
“He’s a really good pitcher. He’s composed out there,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He throws strikes, he competes his (rear) off and he’s got weapons to do it, too.”
“(Grifol) has been great with me,” Fedde said. “He’s given me a great leash in the sense of if I tell him I feel good, it’s mine. He just told me kind of (go) hitter to hitter going out there. That way I know I could leave it all out.”
Fedde was able to change his approach last season in Korea and doesn’t rely on a fastball when he falls behind in the count.
“Just the ability to throw 2-0 changeups or cutters behind in the count,” Fedde said. “We talk about just jabbing with the fastball in the sense of keeping guys off-balance. I feel like I’ve been able to do that all year, and it’s been great.”
Despite being swept by the Yankees, the White Sox have won eight of their past 15 games.
Vogelbach provided a spark for a struggling Toronto lineup.
“Over the course of the season, it takes everybody, and you never know when it’s your night to contribute,” Vogelbach said. “You just put your head down, you go to work, and if you do that and come to the field every day, things will work out.”
Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his consistent hitting Sunday with two singles. He has at least one hit in 16 of his past 18 games, batting .400 (28-for-70) with four doubles, one home run and 10 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
