Orioles Begin Home Series Against White Sox Looking to Build Momentum Before Road Trip
Orioles Begin Home Series Against White Sox Looking to Build Momentum Before Road Trip
The Baltimore Orioles return to Oriole Park at Camden Yards looking to gain ground in the American League standings as they open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
While Baltimore enters the series at 39-46, the White Sox have been one of baseball’s surprise teams this season with a 43-39 record. The series presents another opportunity for the Orioles to prove they can compete against clubs currently above .500 while trying to climb back into the postseason conversation.
According to ESPN Analytics, Baltimore is a slight favorite in each of the first two games despite the difference in the standings, thanks in large part to favorable pitching matchups and home-field advantage.
Series Schedule
Game 1 – Monday, June 30 – 6:35 p.m. EDT
- White Sox (43-39) at Orioles (39-46)
- Chicago: Sean Burke (5-4, 3.71 ERA)
- Baltimore: Shane Baz (4-8, 4.31 ERA)
Game 2 – Tuesday, July 1 – 6:35 p.m. EDT
- White Sox (43-39) at Orioles (39-46)
- Chicago: Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.34 ERA)
- Baltimore: T.J. Gibson (1-2, 5.64 ERA)
Game 3 – Wednesday, July 2 – 12:35 p.m. EDT
- White Sox at Orioles
- Probable pitchers are still to be announced.
After the series, Baltimore heads to Cincinnati for an interleague matchup with the Reds.
Game 1 Breakdown
Monday’s opener features one of the better pitching matchups of the series.
Sean Burke has quietly become one of Chicago’s most dependable starters, posting a 5-4 record with a 3.71 ERA over 87.1 innings. Burke has limited hard contact throughout the season and consistently keeps the White Sox in games.
Baltimore counters with Shane Baz, who enters at 4-8 with a 4.31 ERA in 94 innings. While the win-loss record isn’t ideal, Baz has shown flashes of top-of-the-rotation ability and gives the Orioles a chance to win whenever he takes the mound.
If Baz commands his fastball early and avoids free passes, Baltimore should have an opportunity to start the series with a win.
Game 2 Breakdown
Tuesday features veteran Erick Fedde against T.J. Gibson.
Fedde has gone 2-6 with a 4.34 ERA over 74.2 innings. His numbers don’t fully reflect how competitive he has been, as Chicago has struggled to provide consistent run support in several of his starts.
Gibson enters with a 1-2 record and a 5.64 ERA over 30.1 innings. Baltimore will need Gibson to work deep into the game to lessen the load on the bullpen before Wednesday’s afternoon finale.
Offensive Leaders
The series features several dangerous hitters.
White Sox
- Masataka Murakami
- 20 home runs
- .240 batting average
- 41 RBIs
- Sam Antonacci
- .292 batting average
- .391 on-base percentage
Orioles
- Pete Alonso
- 19 home runs
- .252 batting average
- 58 RBIs
- Taylor Ward
- .256 batting average
- .388 on-base percentage
Baltimore’s lineup has leaned heavily on Alonso’s power production, while Ward continues to be one of the club’s most consistent on-base threats.
Keys for Baltimore
- Get a quality start from Shane Baz in the opener.
- Continue getting middle-of-the-order production from Pete Alonso.
- Take advantage of home field before beginning the road trip.
- Limit mistakes defensively against a White Sox team that has played fundamentally sound baseball throughout the season.
- Find more offensive consistency with runners in scoring position.
Prediction
This is a tougher matchup than the records might normally suggest. Chicago has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the American League, but Baltimore has the advantage in Game 1 with Baz pitching at Camden Yards.
If the Orioles can win the opener, they’ll put themselves in position to earn a series victory before heading to Cincinnati. A strong start from Baz and continued production from Alonso could be the difference.
Series prediction: Orioles take two of three.
Orioles Begin Home Series Against White Sox Looking to Build Momentum Before Road Trip
The Baltimore Orioles return to Oriole Park at Camden Yards looking to gain ground in the American League standings as they open a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox.
While Baltimore enters the series at 39-46, the White Sox have been one of baseball’s surprise teams this season with a 43-39 record. The series presents another opportunity for the Orioles to prove they can compete against clubs currently above .500 while trying to climb back into the postseason conversation.
According to ESPN Analytics, Baltimore is a slight favorite in each of the first two games despite the difference in the standings, thanks in large part to favorable pitching matchups and home-field advantage.
Series Schedule
Game 1 – Monday, June 30 – 6:35 p.m. EDT
- White Sox (43-39) at Orioles (39-46)
- Chicago: Sean Burke (5-4, 3.71 ERA)
- Baltimore: Shane Baz (4-8, 4.31 ERA)
Game 2 – Tuesday, July 1 – 6:35 p.m. EDT
- White Sox (43-39) at Orioles (39-46)
- Chicago: Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.34 ERA)
- Baltimore: T.J. Gibson (1-2, 5.64 ERA)
Game 3 – Wednesday, July 2 – 12:35 p.m. EDT
- White Sox at Orioles
- Probable pitchers are still to be announced.
After the series, Baltimore heads to Cincinnati for an interleague matchup with the Reds.
Game 1 Breakdown
Monday’s opener features one of the better pitching matchups of the series.
Sean Burke has quietly become one of Chicago’s most dependable starters, posting a 5-4 record with a 3.71 ERA over 87.1 innings. Burke has limited hard contact throughout the season and consistently keeps the White Sox in games.
Baltimore counters with Shane Baz, who enters at 4-8 with a 4.31 ERA in 94 innings. While the win-loss record isn’t ideal, Baz has shown flashes of top-of-the-rotation ability and gives the Orioles a chance to win whenever he takes the mound.
If Baz commands his fastball early and avoids free passes, Baltimore should have an opportunity to start the series with a win.
Game 2 Breakdown
Tuesday features veteran Erick Fedde against T.J. Gibson.
Fedde has gone 2-6 with a 4.34 ERA over 74.2 innings. His numbers don’t fully reflect how competitive he has been, as Chicago has struggled to provide consistent run support in several of his starts.
Gibson enters with a 1-2 record and a 5.64 ERA over 30.1 innings. Baltimore will need Gibson to work deep into the game to lessen the load on the bullpen before Wednesday’s afternoon finale.
Offensive Leaders
The series features several dangerous hitters.
White Sox
- Masataka Murakami
- 20 home runs
- .240 batting average
- 41 RBIs
- Sam Antonacci
- .292 batting average
- .391 on-base percentage
Orioles
- Pete Alonso
- 19 home runs
- .252 batting average
- 58 RBIs
- Taylor Ward
- .256 batting average
- .388 on-base percentage
Baltimore’s lineup has leaned heavily on Alonso’s power production, while Ward continues to be one of the club’s most consistent on-base threats.
Keys for Baltimore
- Get a quality start from Shane Baz in the opener.
- Continue getting middle-of-the-order production from Pete Alonso.
- Take advantage of home field before beginning the road trip.
- Limit mistakes defensively against a White Sox team that has played fundamentally sound baseball throughout the season.
- Find more offensive consistency with runners in scoring position.
Prediction
This is a tougher matchup than the records might normally suggest. Chicago has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the American League, but Baltimore has the advantage in Game 1 with Baz pitching at Camden Yards.
If the Orioles can win the opener, they’ll put themselves in position to earn a series victory before heading to Cincinnati. A strong start from Baz and continued production from Alonso could be the difference.
Series prediction: Orioles take two of three.
