Home Sweet Home
After losing their sixth consecutive road game, the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox hope a return home can re-energize their offense.
They’ll try to extend their home winning streak to nine games Friday when the Colorado Rockies make their first visit to U.S. Cellular Field.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Chicago -135 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 77% of bets for this game have been placed on Chicago -135 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
The White Sox (37-29), who lead the division by 5 1/2 games over Minnesota, are 20-9 at home, winning their last eight games there. They haven’t won nine straight home games since a 10-game run from April 15-May 4, 2006.
Chicago capped a 7-0 homestand on Monday by beating the Twins 7-5. The club hit .347 with 19 homers and 61 runs during that stretch.
The White Sox, however, failed to carry any of that momentum onto the road, getting swept in three games at Detroit after dropping Thursday’s series finale 2-1 as Miguel Cabrera hit a walk-off homer. It was also their sixth consecutive loss as a visitor, and they’re hitting .234 with two homers and 10 runs in those games.
"Hopefully we can go home and get the bats going again," said White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen after his team scored six runs in the series against Detroit.
Nick Swisher hopes to regain his rhythm at the plate after going 1-for-9 against the Tigers. The left fielder appeared to have pulled out of a season-long slump during the team’s last homestand, when he went 11-for-26 (.423) with four homers and 10 RBIs. He’s hitting .223 with eight homers and 24 RBIs in his first season in Chicago.
Gavin Floyd (7-3, 3.10 ERA) looks to win a career-high fourth consecutive start after posting a 3.60 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 20 innings over his last three.
The right-hander struck out a career-high nine while yielding two runs and six hits in seven innings of a 12-2 win over Minnesota on Sunday.
Floyd didn’t fare well in his only start against Colorado (26-40) on April 25, 2006, allowing seven runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings of a 7-6 loss with Philadelphia.
Chicago swept three games from the Rockies at Colorado in the only series between the clubs from June 6-8, 2005. The White Sox are 3-0 in interleague play this season, completing a sweep at San Francisco last month.
The Rockies are one of the worst road teams in baseball with a 10-24 record and a 5.05 ERA.
Jeff Francis (2-6, 5.45) will try to help Colorado rebound from Thursday’s 10-7 loss to the Giants.
The left-hander is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last two starts, but struggled early in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. Francis allowed three runs and four hits with three walks in the first two innings before settling down and giving up three hits and a walk in the next four.
Francis lost his only start against the White Sox, allowing five runs and 12 hits in six innings of a 15-5 defeat on June 8, 2005.
Scott Podsednik, who is mired in an 0-for-12 slump while playing sparingly over his last six games, is making his first return to U.S. Cellular after playing a key role in helping the White Sox win the 2005 World Series. The left fielder hit .290 with 59 stolen bases for Chicago that year before injuries and poor play caused his release after the 2007 season.
"He was a big reason for us to win the championship," Guillen told the White Sox’s official Web site. "He brought a lot of things to the table… Scott brings a lot of good memories to the fans, and Chicago fans will appreciate him."
Colorado is 2-1 against the AL this season after winning a home series against Minnesota last month.
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