The key to victory will be patience
It looked like the White Sox were going to have a big pitching edge today, but that was before Jonathan Cannon got scratched because of lower back tightness and Bryse Wilson got the emergency starting assignment. Wilson hasn’t pitched in 10 days, and last time out gave up seven earned runs in 5 1⁄3 against the Reds, raising his ERA to a nice, even 6.00.
That may give a slight edge to Rangers starter Jack Leiter, who has problems of his own. The hard-throwing (97.1 mph average on his fastball) righty began the season with two solid starts, but then went on the IL with what must have been a really bad blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, because he was out for 25 days.
Since being back, Leiter has had a very hard time finding the plate, with 15 walks in 26 innings across five starts. Opponents only bat a paltry .186 against him, but the control problems have led to a 4.25 ERA. The White Sox are middling in walks this year, a big improvement over the last decade or so (well, except for Lenyn Sosa), and two walks were key to the three-run inning that beat the Rangers last night. If they can remain patient, Leiter may give them enough freebies to score some runs.
Leiter will face a Sox lineup that is the same as last night’s except for Matt Thaiss taking over the catching duties.
Wilson gets to take on a weak Texas lineup that has lost five in a row, not scoring more than three runs in a game since last Saturday.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Central, on a cool but pleasant 60°, partly cloudy with light wind from left to right. Usual broadcast suspects.