Across the diamond, the Giants are the opposite story. San Francisco just got broomed in three by the Diamondbacks, they sit 20-30, and they're dead last in runs scored in MLB. They counter Martin with rookie Trevor McDonald (2-0, 2.37), whose three career big-league starts have produced 21 strikeouts against 1 walk. Per NBC Sports Bay Area, that line puts him next to Fernando Valenzuela in the record books for K-BB ratio through a first three starts. Not bad company for a guy nobody outside the Bay had heard of a month ago.
The line tells you the market doesn't fully trust either side here. Chicago opens as a tiny -105 favorite on the road, the total sits at 7, and the run-line price reflects what everyone watching has seen: two pitchers running hot, two offenses that are mostly running on fumes. The White Sox are 20th in MLB hitting .235 as a team. The Giants are last in runs. Take the under and go to bed, basically.
The injury column is doing a lot of work for both clubs too. The Giants are without Logan Webb (knee), Heliot Ramos (quad, at least two weeks per Tony Vitello), and Jung Hoo Lee is day-to-day with a back issue. Chicago is missing Austin Hays, Kyle Teel, and a parade of arms — Drew Thorpe, Ky Bush, Mike Vasil, Prelander Berroa — most of them with elbows that quit on them. Miguel Vargas is also day-to-day.
- Day-To-DayMiguel Vargas (3B) — Vargas is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.05/20
- Day-To-DayMason Adams (RP) — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays (LF) — Hays (calf) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/17
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira (RF) — The White Sox placed Pereira on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a right pectoral strain.05/08
- OutTim Elko (1B) — Elko (knee) agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Sunday, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILKyle Teel (C) — Teel (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined an additional 3-to-6 weeks after suffering a sprained LCL in his right knee during a rehab game with Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/20
- 60-Day-ILPrelander Berroa (RP) — Berroa is dealing with right elbow inflammation and will have his rehab stint paused, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.05/17
- 60-Day-ILMike Vasil (RP) — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTanner Murray (LF) — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin (LF) — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILKy Bush (SP) — The White Sox placed Bush (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Feb. 10.05/08
- 60-Day-ILDrew Thorpe (SP) — Thorpe (elbow) has thrown seven bullpen sessions as part of his rehab process, MLB.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayJung Hoo Lee (RF) — Lee (back) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.05/20
- 10-Day-ILHeliot Ramos (LF) — Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters Saturday that Ramos will be shelved for at least two weeks due to a right quad strain, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.05/16
- 15-Day-ILLogan Webb (SP) — Webb (knee) will make a rehab start later in the week, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.05/18
- 60-Day-ILReiver Sanmartin (RP) — Sanmartin (hip) tossed a scoreless inning in Triple-A Sacramento's 11-6 win over Sugar Land on Tuesday.05/20
- 60-Day-ILJason Foley (RP) — Foley (shoulder) earned a hold in Triple-A Sacramento's 6-5 loss to Round Rock on Wednesday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.05/15
- 60-Day-ILJared Oliva (CF) — The Giants transferred Oliva (wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRowan Wick (RP) — The Giants placed Wick (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILHayden Birdsong (RP) — Birdsong underwent successful UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILRandy Rodriguez (RP) — The Giants placed Rodriguez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJose Butto (RP) — The Giants transferred Butto (arm) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
Bottom line: this is a pitching showcase masquerading as a Friday-night Western swing opener. Martin has been MLB's quietest ace, McDonald has been MLB's quietest curiosity, and the offense behind both of them has been hard to watch. If you're tuning in, watch the strike-zone work. If Martin keeps painting like he did against the Angels (7 IP, 10 K, 0 BB on May 4), the Sox extend a streak that nobody in Chicago expected to be talking about in late May.