Chicago is 26-24 and somehow on the better side of this matchup at Oracle Park. San Francisco has dropped 4 of 5 and just put Jung Hoo Lee on the IL with a back strain, which means an offense that already ranked near the bottom of MLB in runs is asking even more of the guys still standing.
The pitching card up top says Bryan Hudson is the White Sox starter, but that's the opener game. Hudson is a lefty reliever who hadn't allowed a run in 17.2 innings across 19 outings entering mid-May, and the Sox have leaned on him to get through a lineup once before turning it over. A 1.57 ERA in that role is not a fluke you punt against a depleted Giants order.
Adrian Houser is the other end of this. He's been one of the slowest-starting additions in the Giants' rotation, sitting at a 5.25 ERA with the strikeout rate of a back-end innings-eater. His last turn against the Nationals was 5.2 innings and 4 earned, which is roughly what he's been all year — hittable, walks creeping in, no swing-and-miss to bail him out.
The market has San Francisco as a slight home favorite, which is more a comment on Hudson being a bullpen game than any vote of confidence in Houser. DK is holding the total a full run lower than Pinnacle (7.5 vs 8.5), and the public is hammering the over while sharp money sits on the under. Worth noting before you click anything.
- Day-To-DayJarred Kelenic RF — Kelenic went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Cubs.
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — Hays (calf) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira RF — The White Sox placed Pereira on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a right pectoral strain.
- 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.
- 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.
- 60-Day-ILMike Vasil RP — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
- 60-Day-ILTanner Murray LF — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.
- 10-Day-ILJung 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.
- 10-Day-ILHeliot Ramos LF — Ramos received a PRP injection in his injured right quadriceps and will be shut down for one week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
- 15-Day-ILLogan Webb SP — Webb (knee) is slated to make a rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento on Friday and expects to return from the 15-day injured list next week, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
- 60-Day-ILReiver Sanmartin RP — Sanmartin (hip) tossed a scoreless inning in Triple-A Sacramento's 11-6 win over Sugar Land on Tuesday.
- 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.
- 60-Day-ILJared Oliva CF — The Giants transferred Oliva (wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
- 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.
- 60-Day-ILHayden Birdsong RP — Birdsong underwent successful UCL reconstruction surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Both injury lists are ugly, but the Giants' is the one that actually moves the lineup card today. Lee and Heliot Ramos are both out, Logan Webb is still working back from the knee, and the bullpen is missing Randy Rodriguez, Hayden Birdsong, and Jason Foley. Chicago is without Kyle Teel for the long haul and Austin Hays is still rehabbing, but the active roster is closer to whole.
This is the kind of game where the White Sox can quietly steal a series and nobody outside of 35th Street notices. Houser has not earned trust, the Giants offense is short-handed, and Chicago's bullpen-as-rotation gimmick has been the best thing going for them all month.