Chicago @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 8, Baltimore 1

The Baltimore Orioles struck first in a battle between playoff contenders, but the Chicago White Sox still have time to get out of town even. The White Sox snapped a two-game slide by taking the third of the four-game set on Wednesday. That win pushed their lead in the American League Central to three games over the Detroit Tigers. The Orioles missed a chance to gain ground on the New York Yankees in the AL East.

Baltimore also slipped out of a tie for the wild card lead and now sits in the No. 2 spot, a half-game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays and two games clear of the Tigers. The Orioles had been doing just fine with their own pitchers this season, getting lucky with call-ups and the few free-agent pickups from the offseason, but decided to supplement with veteran Joe Saunders in a trade. That did not yield immediate results, as the White Sox crushed Saunders in his debut en route to an 8-1 triumph on Wednesday. After being mostly quiet in the first two games of the series, Chicago’s offense warmed up with 12 hits and will get to face another left-hander in Zach Britton in the finale.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Jose Quintana (5-2, 2.86 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Zach Britton (3-1, 5.59)

Quintana has not allowed more than three runs in any of his last four starts but has struggled with his command, issuing four walks in each of the last two turns. The 23-year old Colombian has only one win in his last eight games despite a 3.67 ERA in that span. Quintana has yet to lose on the road, posting a 3-0 record with a 3.03 ERA in 10 games.

Britton has won his last two starts, allowing a total of two runs and 10 hits in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 11 and walking five. The 24-year old has had his sinkerball working in those two turns, not surrendering a home run. Britton faced the White Sox once in his 2011 rookie campaign, allowing one run and five hits in six innings to pick up the win. The lone run scored on a solo home run by Brent Lillibridge, who is no longer with Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago had dropped five straight road games before winning on Wednesday.

2. The Orioles will not call up top prospect Dylan Bundy for the stretch run, manager Buck Showalter told reporters.

3. White Sox SS Alexei Ramirez has been battling a finger injury but went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs on Wednesday.