Gamethread: White Sox at Blue Jays

Happy Wednesday! Tonight, the Chicago White Sox (73-54) will look to take the third game of this four-game set from the Toronto Blue Jays (65-59) at Rogers Centre. After a game that got a little too close for comfort yesterday, the White Sox look to get a win and put yet another game between them and Cleveland. With 18 total hits yesterday, let’s hope that the South Side Sluggers can feed off of that and pile up some more runs tonight.

Lucas Giolito will be on the mound, on the one-year anniversary of him making history with his no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In a game that had one of the best pitching performances you will ever see, the nerves were there all the way, even down to the last pitch. I don’t know about you, but I had never been so relieved to see Adam Engel catch a ball before.

Tonight, he will look to add another win to his 9-9 record. Giolito currently has a 3.77 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, which is decreasing as the second half of the season continues. Giolito’s outings have been solid recently, including his last game against the Tampa Bay Rays where he went seven innings while only allowing three hits and striking out eight. He has relied on four pitches, his fastball being the most used at 44.8% of the time. His changeup is used 32.4% of the time, and he also throws in the occasional slider and curveball. His slider has been something to watch, as recently, he has started to throw it more comfortably.

It’s a lefty day! Robbie Ray will be on the mound, who has a stellar 9-5 record with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Earlier in the season, we faced Ray at our home field and now it’s time to do it again up north. Ray’s last outing was against the Detroit Tigers, where he went eight complete innings with just five hits, one run, and a whopping 11 strikeouts. He relies on five pitches, using his fastball the most at 59.5% of the time. He follows with his slider (28%) and curveball (7.7%). He will also throw in a changeup and sinker.

Tim Anderson is back, which is some of the best news i’ve heard in awhile. Even though it feels like he was gone for ages, TA is back with a 10-game hit streak on the line, and ready to lead it off and play shortstop again. Yoán Moncada will get some more time in the 2-hole, while the red-hot José Abreu is at first base. Eloy Jiménez will get a break from the field today, while Luis Robert and Andrew Vaughn occupy center and left field. César Hernández is back, and Leury García and Seby Zavala will close it out.

Game time is at 6:07 p.m. CT on NBCSCHI. Listen in at ESPN 1000, and let’s have a ballgame!