After collecting consecutive victories for just the second time this season, the host Chicago White Sox are bracing for a significant challenge Saturday in their bid to win three in a row.
Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown is set to start against the White Sox on the heels of a sterling April in which he won four of five starts while pitching to a 0.87 ERA.
Brown (4-1, 1.22 ERA) will try to defeat his third American League Central club this season after bookending April with road victories against the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals.
He delivered six innings of one-run, seven-hit ball to beat the Royals on Sunday while striking out nine for the second straight start. To Astros catcher Yainer Diaz, Brown’s early-season dominance starts with his control.
“That, and with the results he’s getting, comes the confidence to stay in the zone with his pitches,” Diaz said. “We expect him to get better every time he goes out there.”
So far, so good. Brown’s performance Sunday helped the Astros avoid a three-game sweep. In Chicago, he will aim to slow a White Sox lineup that has scored 15 runs over the past two games.
“He’s always had the stuff, and he’s never lacked confidence,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “But now he understands what it takes to be an ace.”
A victory would give the White Sox just their second series win of the season and first since taking two of three from visiting Boston from April 11-13.
While Luis Robert Jr. homered Friday to extend his hitting streak to seven games and secure his 500th career hit, the Chicago attack also benefited from rookie contributors Edgar Quero and Chase Meidroth. Both had two hits, and they combined for three RBIs.
Quero is batting .326 with seven RBIs through his first 15 career games, and he hasn’t blinked while recently holding down the cleanup slot.
The key? Keeping his approach simple.
“Just trying to get around on the ball, seeing good pitches and getting on base,” Quero said. “Especially with the position I’m in now, hitting fourth, when I’ve got guys on base, I’m just trying to hit the ball, not doing too much and just getting on base.”
Meidroth is 10-for-35 (.286) with one RBI through 11 games.
Robert is 9-for-26 (.346) with three home runs, eight RBIs and seven runs during his hitting streak. He also has drawn six walks and stolen six bases in that span.
White Sox right-hander Davis Martin (1-3, 3.24 ERA) will aim to earn his first victory since April 11 when he gets the call on Saturday.
Martin is coming off a no-decision against the host Athletics on Sunday. He scattered three hits, two walks and five strikeouts in six scoreless innings, but the A’s prevailed 3-2 in 10 innings.
Saturday marks Martin’s first career appearance against Houston.
Brown hopes to continue his strong career success vs. the White Sox. He is 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA in three starts against Chicago, with 20 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
