As the season winds down, the confidence of the Chicago White Sox goes up.
Chicago (52-88) has the worst record in the American League and trails only the Colorado Rockies (39-101) for the most losses in the majors. But the White Sox have won four games in a row, and they are looking to make it a season-high five straight.
The White Sox will get that opportunity when they take on the Minnesota Twins (62-77) in the finale of a four-game series Thursday evening in Minneapolis.
A 4-3 comeback victory on Wednesday gave the White Sox three straight wins over Minnesota. Chicago trailed 3-1 entering the ninth inning but scored three runs in the top of the inning and held on for the victory.
The rally snapped a string of 205 consecutive losses for the White Sox when they were trailing after eight innings.
Given the team’s recent success, it is easier to understand why manager Will Venable said he thinks the White Sox are headed in the right direction.
“You just can point to a lot of different areas,” Venable said. “First and foremost, (it’s about) what’s happened on the field and what’s happened with our young players.”
Chicago is scheduled to turn to left-hander Fraser Ellard (0-2, 4.82 ERA) as their opener on Thursday. The 27-year-old has thrown 9 1/3 innings this season over nine appearances, with 13 strikeouts.
Ellard most recently pitched on Monday, giving up one run (none earned) and no hits over 1 2/3 innings as Chicago’s opener in the team’s 6-5 victory over the Twins. He has no decisions and has not given up an earned run in three career outings over 3 2/3 innings against them.
The Twins will counter with right-hander Taj Bradley (6-7, 4.82 ERA), who will make his third start since joining the team. The former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher struggled against the White Sox in his Twins debut on Aug. 24 but bounced back in his most recent appearance to limit the San Diego Padres to one run on one hit in five innings on Saturday as Minnesota lost 12-3.
Bradley has faced the White Sox twice in his career. He is 0-1 with a 14.85 ERA in those starts, allowing 11 runs on 13 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
One player who will look to provide run support for Bradley is Twins infielder Royce Lewis, who hopes to stay hot at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases on Wednesday.
Lewis said his recent success is directly related to how he feels in the batter’s box.
“When I’m comfortable, it feels like I’m just having fun, playing loose,” Lewis said. “I’m not thinking about where my hands are or how my step is going to work or loading, anything like that. I’m just ‘see the ball, hit the ball.’
“It’s truly how simplified it is right now.”
The White Sox remain without outfielder Luis Robert Jr., who is sidelined by a left hamstring strain. It is uncertain whether he will return this season.
–Field Level Media
