White Sox-Orioles Preview

Heading out on the road has again appeared to give a confidence boost to the Chicago White Sox. After sweeping a division nemesis, the White Sox will try to keep their momentum going as they open a four-game series against the struggling Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. Chicago was mired in a six-game skid going to Target Field this weekend but turned its fortunes around behind three strong pitching performances. The White Sox (55-58) allowed four runs in their three wins in Minnesota after losing in 24 of 30 games there. Jake Peavy and Matt Thornton combined on a four-hitter in Sunday's 7-0 victory. Alexei Ramirez, Paul Konerko, Alex Rios and Brent Lillibridge each homered as every starter hit safely. Chicago was outscored 49-16 in six consecutive home losses to Boston and the New York Yankees. In the homestand prior to that, the White Sox went 2-5 before winning five of eight on the road. "It's all about confidence," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "They've got their confidence back, and they know they can win." Facing a Baltimore Orioles lineup batting .218 during a 3-9 stretch could further boost Chicago's confidence and allow John Danks (4-9, 3.90 ERA) to rebound from his first loss in seven starts. The left-hander gave up four runs and nine hits over six innings during a rain-shortened 6-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday. He was 4-0 with a 0.98 ERA over his previous six starts, a stretch that followed an 0-8 start this season. Danks suffered one of those eight losses to Baltimore (44-67) on April 29 when he gave up five runs over six innings during a 10-4 defeat. He was 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in his previous four matchups and yielded one run over seven innings during his most recent game at Camden Yards last August. He'll be opposed by the major league leader in losses, Jeremy Guthrie (5-15, 4.34), who is coming off another difficult start. The right-hander gave up six runs over seven innings during a 6-2 defeat in Kansas City on Wednesday after winning two of his previous three outings. "I felt the same as last time (a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees on July 29). I just didn't get the same results," he said. Guthrie is 0-2 with a 6.59 ERA in last two starts against White Sox after going 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his previous three. He gave up four runs over seven innings during a 6-2 loss at U.S. Cellular Field on May 2. Like his White Sox counterpart, Guthrie has received little help from his teammates. He has a 3.39 run support average, while Danks' is 3.11. The Orioles had five hits in a 7-2 loss to Toronto on Sunday, with Mark Reynolds' two solo homers providing the only runs. Baltimore might get some help if J.J. Hardy (left ankle) and Chris Davis (right shoulder) can return from their injuries as expected Monday. The Orioles haven't won a series over an AL opponent since sweeping Oakland at home from June 6-8, but they took three of four from the White Sox earlier this season. Baltimore has also won six of eight at home in the series.