Chicago at Philadelphia

The Chicago White Sox simply can't hit. They have a team average of just .232 and in the last week have hit even worse than that while the bullpen has collapsed as well. Chicago has now lost 14 of 17 and have managed just 35 runs in their last 13 games, good for 2.7 rpg. This team has been shutout five times already and has produced 3 runs or less in half their games and 2 runs or less in 22 of 61. John Danks gets the ball for the pale hose and he has been awful of late. Danks has not gotten out of the sixth inning in three straight starts. He has become bat shy, yielding 13 BB's in his last 20 innings along with getting ripped for 27 hits. He is backed by a bullpen that has killed the White Sox all season. This past week the White Sox pen has given up 15 runs in just over 16 innings. Danks' failures have been followed by a pen that has added 11 more runs in his last four starts, and the Sox are just 4-7 when he takes the hill. The weak White Sox line-up is further weakened by not having a DH playing on the road vs. a National League team and has produced just 3 runs in the first two games this series. Philadelphia was five games under .500 on May 8th. But they have been playing great baseball, jumping to three games over .500 with the win last night. Kyle Kendrick gets the nod in Garcia's spot for the Phils. Kendrick does not walk anyone, and is a sinkerball pitcher. The White Sox have difficulty getting a rally going with their weak attack, and all three runs in this series have come via the long ball. So having a sinkerballer on the mound with great control may further limit this struggling offense. Kendrick has allowed three HR's in 81+ innings in the minors. Look for Philadelphia to get the sweep today.