Cincinnati @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( May 8, 2015 ) Cincinnati 0, Chi. White Sox 0
After having their series opener washed out, the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox will play a back-to-back doubleheader Saturday on the South Side. Cincinnati hasn't fared well against the White Sox, who lead the all-time series 14-3 and have won 11 of the past 12 meetings, but the teams haven't faced off since 2009.
The schedule change caused a shakeup in the pitching matchups, as the Reds will use ace Johnny Cueto in the opener against Hector Noesi and bump Friday's scheduled starter, veteran right-hander Jason Marquis, to the second game against White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodan. The Reds will be without star first baseman Joey Votto for the first game of the doubleheader as he serves a one-game suspension for bumping an umpire, but they expect to have another big bat back in the lineup. Devin Mesoraco was penciled in as the designated hitter before the rainout Friday, slated for his first start since April 11 after being limited to pinch hitting because of a left hip impingement. Both teams are coming off series victories, as Cincinnati took two of three at Pittsburgh and Chicago won two of three versus Detroit.
TV: 7:10 p.m., FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Jason Marquis (3-1, 5.22 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Carlos Rodon (0-0, 2.84)
Marquis has won three straight starts and recorded consecutive quality starts. The 36-year-old held Atlanta to three runs over 6 1/3 innings last time out to earn the win after limiting Milwaukee to two runs over eight innings in his previous outing. Marquis is 2-1 with a 9.00 ERA in four starts against the White Sox, but he hasn't faced them since 2008.
Rodon is slated for first major-league start after relief appearances to begin his career. The 22-year-old had a rocky big-league debut but has thrown four scoreless innings over his past two outings. He is filling in for the suspended Jeff Samardzija, but he isn't likely to stick in the rotation for now, because the White Sox want to limit his innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago SS Alexei Ramirez has been stuck on 99 career home runs since Sept. 13 of last season, a drought spanning 159 plate appearances.
2. Cincinnati 3B Todd Frazier belted his NL-best 10th home run Thursday and has five in his last eight games.
3. White Sox DH Adam LaRoche has reached safely in six straight games while RF Avisail Garcia has recorded an RBI in five consecutive contests.
PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Reds 3