On Saturday, the Texas Rangers (17-28, 5th NL West) visit the Chicago White Sox (11-29, 5th AL Central) for the third game of their four-game series.
The series is a showdown between two of baseball’s worst teams. The White Sox won the first game of this series on Thursday 4-2 as Wellington Castillo broke a tie with a two-run single during the eighth in which the White Sox scored all four of their runs. James Shields tossed a three hitter into the eighth inning for Chicago. Doug Fister, the Rangers starter also pitched well with seven strong innings. Shin-Soo Choo has two hits for the Rangers in the loss. The Rangers scratched starter Cole Hamels after he woke up suffering from a stiff neck.
Nomar Mazara leads Texas with a .278 batting average and team high 47 hits. Joey Gallo leads the Rangers with 13 home runs and 27 RBIs. Texas has a team batting average of .229, while opposing hitters are averaging .272 at the plate against Rangers pitching. Texas has not yet announced its starting pitcher for Saturday’s game.
Jose Abreu leads the White Sox with a .288 batting average and team high 44 hits. Matt Davidson leads the team in home runs with 11 and RBIs with 25. Chicago has a team batting average of .242, while opposing hitters are averaging .263 at the plate against White Sox pitching. On Saturday, the White Sox will send Lucas Giolito to the mound. The right-hander on the season is 2-4, with an ERA of 6.91, 24 Ks and 32 BBs.
