Athletics @ Chicago preview
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Last Meeting ( Mar 24, 2025 ) Athletics 5, Chi. White Sox 8
Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs faltered when he faced the Chicago Cubs at the start of April.
On Tuesday, he'll look to keep putting those struggles behind him as the A's start a three-game road series against Chicago's other team, the White Sox.
The White Sox earned their first series victory over the weekend, taking two of three from the visiting Boston Red Sox.
That followed an eight-game losing streak, which gave vivid reminders of Chicago's modern-era record 121 losses in 2024.
While the White Sox couldn't finish off a three-game sweep, losing Sunday's series finale 3-1, the team feels energized by its resilience.
"We are still fighting," Chicago infielder Brooks Baldwin said. "It doesn't matter how many hits we have on the board, how many runs. We are still on the gas pedal from pitch one to the end."
A spark from rookie Chase Meidroth, who made his major league debut Friday, has helped too.
Meidroth was 3-for-7 (.429) with three walks and three runs against Boston. On Sunday, his eighth-inning single spoiled a no-hit bid from Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet. Meidroth was part of the return to the White Sox when Crochet was traded in December.
"Chase is a wonderful ballplayer," Baldwin said. "He doesn't shy away from anybody. And he's going to take his walks. He's going to put the ball in play and play good defense."
The A's hoped to turn a corner by winning a series in Colorado on the heels of a three-game home sweep at the hands of the Cubs from March 31-April 2 at their current home of Sacramento, Calif.
Springs (2-1, 4.20 ERA) took the loss in the finale against the Cubs, scattering five runs (four earned) and five hits in three innings. He walked four and struck out three.
Springs appeared to be on a similar course against the San Diego Padres last Tuesday, surrendering four runs (three earned) over the first two innings. Buoyed by a six-run A's outburst in the bottom of the first, he held the Padres scoreless over his final four innings and pick up the win.
"That was really nice to be pitching with a lead back out there," Springs said. "A lot of credit to those guys for swinging the bat the way they did."
The A's, who begin a six-game road trip Tuesday, lost a series to the New York Mets this past weekend. New York prevailed 8-0 on Sunday, dealing the A's their first shutout of the season.
"It's tough when you're playing this type of team, they put pressure on you a lot with their at-bats," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said.
A's leadoff man Lawrence Butler collected three of the club's five hits.
White Sox right-hander Sean Burke (1-2, 6.08 ERA) will try to defeat the A's at home for the second straight season. Burke delivered five innings of two-run, five-hit ball on Sept. 15 to earn his first major league victory.
He pitched six shutout innings against the Los Angeles Angels to win on Opening Day but lost his past two starts, allowing a total of nine runs in 7 1/3 innings.
Springs is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two career relief outings against the White Sox covering two innings.
--Field Level Media