The Chicago White Sox are showing signs of life despite sitting in the cellar of the American League Central and will look to build momentum when they host the slumping Texas Rangers on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of a three-game set.
The contest will be a clash of right-handers as the Rangers send rookie Jack Leiter (3-2, 4.25 ERA) to the mound against Jonathan Cannon (2-5, 3.76).
The White Sox won the series opener 4-1 on Friday as Sean Burke and three relievers limited Texas to three hits and Luis Robert Jr. drove in a run, stole a base and scored. Chicago won for the second time in its past three games while the Rangers dropped their season-high fifth straight contest.
Texas has scored one run or no runs in 13 of its 27 losses this season.
Entering the game Friday night, the White Sox were on their exact pace (15-35) through 50 games of the 2024 team that broke the modern-era record for losses with a 41-121 record. But things are different this year, with several of the defeats closer and the feeling they can play — and beat — anyone.
“We are in a lot of these games that we’ve lost,” White Sox catcher Matt Thaiss said. “We can get a couple more hits or make a couple more pitches and come out on top.”
“We really do have a great group of guys, and you can just see the progress in everyone,” Cannon said. “Everyone’s kind of taking steps forward, and we’re playing clean baseball.”
For Texas, Leiter threw a career-best seven-plus innings on Sunday against Houston and did not allow a hit until the Astros’ Yainer Diaz homered in the seventh inning. Leiter departed in the eighth with a 3-1 lead and runners on first and second, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. He was charged with three runs on three hits while walking two and striking out four in a game Texas lost 4-3.
“I think every game is its own learning experience,” Leiter said after his team’s loss to Houston. “All I’m trying to do is soak it in as much as possible and learn as much as I can. Obviously there’s a lot of positive takeaways to build off of this one.”
Leiter has one career appearance and a 4.50 ERA against the White Sox. He gave up three runs (two earned) in four innings and didn’t figure into the decision of a 4-3 road win last Aug. 28.
Cannon has dropped two of his past three games and took a 6-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. He gave up four runs (three earned) in five innings. The stint snapped a four-game streak of quality starts for Cannon.
Cannon has lost his only lifetime appearance against Texas, surrendering two runs on eight hits with two walks and a hit batter over six innings in a 2-1 road defeat last July 25.
–Field Level Media
