Orioles (61-46) vs. Chicago White Sox (52-56)
Where: U.S. Cellular Field
First pitch: 8:10 p.m.
TV/Radio: MASN2/105.7 The Fan
Starting pitchers: Orioles RHP Yovani Gallardo (3-3, 5.70 ERA) vs. White Sox RHP Miguel Gonzalez (2-5, 4.06 ERA)
What to watch
1. Old friends: Tonight, the Orioles face ex-teammate Miguel Gonzalez in their series opener against the Chicago White Sox. Gonzalez has had a bounce-back season with a 4.06 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts). He was exceptional in July with a 2.50 ERA, 31 strikeouts and nine walks in 39 2/3 innings over six starts. Can he keep that run going against his former club, which released him April 1?
2. Where's Davis? On July 2, Chris Davis had 21 home runs and 56 RBIs with an .876 OPS in 79 games. Over the 24 games since, Davis has one home run, four RBIs and an atrocious .441 OPS (.138/.257/.184). It seems like it's only a matter of time until he'll break out again. Will it start against a pitcher he knows well?
3. Start it up: The Orioles begin what could be a season-defining 10-game road trip in Chicago tonight. They follow their three games against the White Sox with seven in the San Francisco Bay Area (four against the Oakland Athletics and three against the San Francisco Giants). The Orioles don't leave the Eastern time zone thereafter, but they begin this stretch tied with the Toronto Blue Jays atop the American League East while the Boston Red Sox sit two games back. The Orioles are just 22-29 on the road this season, and will certainly have to improve on that mark if they want to come back home still in first place. Can they do it?
Orioles lineup
CF Adam Jones
LF Hyun Soo Kim
3B Manny Machado
1B Chris Davis
RF Mark Trumbo
DH Pedro Alvarez
C Matt Wieters
2B Jonathan Schoop
SS J.J. Hardy