The White Sox had a chance to unload some assets and build for the future, but they elected to stand pat with the hope of making a playoff push. Finishing a stretch of games against teams with a losing record hasn’t helped them and in typical White Sox fashion, they continue to spin their wheels.
ODDS ANALYSIS
It was supposed to be a time for the White Sox to make one last push for a playoff spot. A stretch of 10 games against sub-.500 teams comes to an end Sunday and the Sox managed to win only four of the first seven in that stretch. Chicago started well enough, knocking off the Mariners twice in Seattle last week before dropping the series finale. A return home saw them lose two of three to the Red Sox before taking the first of this four-game weekend set. The Sox can still have a winning run, but more was expected. At 60-66 following Thursday’s victory, the Sox know they can’t lose any more series, which made the three-game set against Boston a serious blow to their playoff chances, which were already thin to begin with.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The Mariners haven’t officially named a starter but they are likely to give lefty Mike Montgomery (4-6, 4.60 ERA) another crack in the rotation. He was lit up for seven hits and five earned in just 1.1 innings Tuesday against Oakland, but escaped with a no-decision when the M’s rallied for the win. He’s trying to pitch his way out of the rotation giving up 20 runs and 28 hits over 13.2 innings of his last four starts.
He turned in a quality start in his last road outing and will face the White Sox for the first time.
Jose Quintana (7-10, 3.63 ERA) allowed four runs – three earned – over six innings in his last turn. It was no-decision No. 48 for Quintana on Tuesday against the Red Sox, giving him the most in the majors since 2012. It was a standard start for the righty, who allowed seven hits with six strikeouts, for his 20th quality start in 26 outings this season.
Quintana looks for his first win in five appearances, four of which were starts, against the Mariners. He’s 0-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 23.2 innings against them.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Look, we knew we were going to get a power hitter, a guy who had the ability to drive in some runs. But if I said I knew he was going to be this good, I’d be lying to you. He continues to get better every day. It’s almost like he’s getting younger every day.” – Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon on 35-year-old Nelson Cruz, who leads the majors in home runs
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
Trayce Thompson had the confidence to succeed at the Major League level, he just needed his chance with the big club. That day came when he was summoned from Triple-A Charlotte on Aug. 3. Thompson finished a home run shy of the cycle on Tuesday with his two-run double off Red Sox starter Wade Miley with two outs in the seventh ending up as the game-winner. In 27 at-bats through Thursday, Thompson has knocked out 14 hits and seven extra-base hits. He has 12 hits in 20 at-bats against lefties, where he’s been used almost exclusively. But his success against southpaws might get him more regular playing time. “Baseball is a game of confidence anyway, whether you’re in Rookie ball or the big leagues. You have to be confident to have success to start,” he said.
PROP TALK
It hasn’t been the season the M’s hoped for when they signed Nelson Cruz. But after leading the Major Leagues with 40 home runs last year for the Orioles, Cruz is having the best season of his career. Cruz leads the American League in homers and hits, and no one has led the junior circuit in both categories since 1978. Cruz extended his streak of reaching base to 37 games with a single in Thursday’s series opener. It’s the longest in the AL and the third-longest in the Majors this year. Cruz has a slash line of .320/.388/.612 and has driven in 82 runs this season.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The White Sox still believe they can make a run at a wild card spot and we’ll see just how serious they are. Knocking off the Mariners is essential before heading on a road trip to Minnesota and Kansas City for a seven-game excursion that will decide their fate. Quintana has been a reliable starter for Chicago this year but has suffered due to poor run support. The Sox have been better in that area and Thompson has been a big reason. His success against lefties will doom Montgomery and the M’s in this one.
Chicago 7, Seattle 4
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