Back at .500 for the first time since Aug. 3, the surging Pittsburgh Pirates will try for their first road sweep of the season when they visit the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Pittsburgh (73-73) has kept American League Central-leading Chicago (75-70) in a funk by striking in a variety of ways.
A five-run first inning propelled the Pirates to a 9-3 victory in Tuesday’s series opener before eight pitchers scattered eight hits during a 4-2 win Wednesday.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe enters on a three-game multi-hit streak. Esmerlyn Valdez hit a solo home run Wednesday and fellow rookie Konnor Griffin had a two-run single as Pittsburgh moved five games behind the San Diego Padres for the third National League wild-card spot.
“On the offensive side, just keep taking good at-bats, keep rolling off the good approach and let good things happen,” Lowe said.
Chicago remained two games ahead of Cleveland atop the division following the Guardians’ 9-5 loss in Baltimore on Wednesday night.
Munetaka Murakami delivered his second home run in four games but struck out twice for the White Sox.
Chicago, which has lost seven of its last 10 games, struck out 14 times and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Still, the White Sox aren’t panicking as they look to channel a strong finishing kick.
“No need to make it more than what it is,” leadoff hitter Sam Antonacci said. “Just show up every day with the same mindset like we’ve been doing all year. Just have fun.
“I think we’re in the grueling part of the season, so just sprint to the finish line. Don’t let up and keep putting out good work, and I think we’ll be happy toward the end if we continue to do that.”
Winners of five straight series and seven of eight, Pittsburgh will turn to right-hander Jared Jones (3-6, 4.46 ERA).
Jones is attempting to win consecutive starts for the first time in his career. On Friday, he flipped the script on a horrid July in which he went 0-4 with a 7.40 ERA in five starts, delivering six shutout innings to defeat the visiting Los Angeles Angels 1-0.
Jones, who missed most of 2025 and the first two months of this season while recovering from surgery on his throwing elbow, scattered three hits, one walk and nine strikeouts.
He successfully relied on his slider to generate swings and misses.
“When I have my bread and butter with me, which I had (Friday), usually is a good indication of me having a pretty good start,” Jones said. “I’m pretty grateful it worked out that way.”
Jones will face the White Sox for the first time in his career.
Chicago will turn to left-hander Hagen Smith (3-1, 0.56) to make his 11th career appearance and first start on Thursday.
Smith, 23, struck out four batters without surrendering a hit over three scoreless innings in a 10-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday. The rookie has yet to face the Pirates in his career.
–Field Level Media
