Game Thread: Blue Jays at White Sox

The South Siders look to bounce back with Aaron Civale on the mound against righthander Chriss Bassitt

Coming off an 8-4 loss Monday night, the White Sox (30-61) will attempt to rebound with Aaron Civale on the mound against Blue Jays (53-38) righthander, Chris Bassitt. The South Siders were able to take two of three in Toronto just a couple weeks ago, and ideally the offense can provide enough run support behind their pitchers to do it again in Chicago.

Civale is making his 10th start of the season and his fifth start for the White Sox, and has so far racked up a 1-4 record and a 4.60 ERA in 43 innings. In his four games with Chicago, Civale has posted a 4.29 ERA and has slightly improved across most areas in comparison to his five games with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season. His WHIP with the South Siders (1.619) is a bit higher than with the Brewers (1.364), and he is walking batters at a higher rate, and has had two games with four walks.

Civale will have to deal with a Toronto team that gets a a ton of hits (fifth in MLB), and they have the top expected batting average (xBA) in baseball at .270. The Blue Jays have been on a hot streak, having won nine of their last 10 to take the lead of the AL East. George Springer has been on one himself and has posted six home runs and and slashing .396/.458/.736 with a 1.194 OPS (third in MLB) over the past two weeks — behind only Aaron Judge and Michael Busch. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is always one to watch given the sheer power he has, and Alejandro Kirk has been hot this season and has the seventh best batting average in the American League.

For the visiting Blue Jays, old White Sox pal Chris Bassitt will be making his 19th start of the season, and is riding a 4.32 ERA and 1.390 WHIP across 100 innings. He has 102 strikeouts on the season and is holding a 23.2% strikeout rate, and gives up free bases at a 6.4% walk rate.

Mike Tauchman has been on a heater as well, slashing .383/.420/.447 over the past two weeks, and he will remain the leadoff batter. Chase Meidroth is apparently getting the night off, and Lenyn Sosa will shift into the two-hole and play second base this evening, with Colson Montgomery locking down shortstop. Luis Robert Jr. is back in the lineup tonight after an IL stint, and will be batting sixth behind Kyle Teel — who will be the starting catcher this evening. And yet again Josh Rojas somehow finds his way into the lineup, batting ninth and playing third while Miguel Vargas will take over at first.

The White Sox did report a last-minute lineup change, with Austin Slater taking Brooks Baldwin’s place, who was scratched due to lower back tightness. Hopefully it’s nothing too serious for Baldwin, but you never know with this team.

First pitch will take place at 6:40 p.m. CT on the South Side, and you can catch the action at CHSN or tune into the radio broadcast at ESPN Chicago AM 1000. Let’s get a W!