Munetaka Murakami, White Sox get fresh start vs. A's

Limited to two runs and 15 hits in a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Boston Red Sox this week, the Chicago White Sox are expecting a much-needed offensive reinforcement on Friday.

Chicago anticipates activating slugging first baseman Munetaka Murakami from the injured list before hosting the Athletics in the opener of the final series before the All-Star break, White Sox manager Will Venable said Thursday.

Murakami hasn't played since suffering a right hamstring strain against Detroit on May 29. He is batting .240 with 20 home runs and 41 RBIs.

"He means a lot for this lineup," Chicago third baseman Miguel Vargas said. "He's a great hitter. Not just for the lineup but the clubhouse in general. He's a great leader. He's a guy who everyone here looks to."

While the White Sox completed a climb to the top of the American League Central in Murakami's absence, they have fallen into a recent funk. Thursday's 2-1 loss to Boston in the series finale marked the club's sixth loss in eight games.

Chicago shares the division lead with the Cleveland Guardians entering the final weekend of the first half.

Colson Montgomery collected two hits for the White Sox on Thursday after an 0-for-8 start to the series. Andrew Benintendi drove in the lone Chicago run with a pinch-hit single in the fifth inning. The White Sox did not have an extra-base hit in the series.

"These guys all year have just found ways to win games and obviously weren't able to do that this series," Venable said. "But these guys, they'll be ready to go this weekend. Excited to have the A's come to town and just excited for the opportunity to win a game."

The Athletics are 3-14 since last reaching the .500 mark on June 19. The slump includes three losing streaks of at least four games, the latest a six-game slide.

On Thursday, the club suffered its second straight three-game sweep after losing 4-1 to the host Detroit Tigers.

Shortstop Jacob Wilson collected two of the Athletics' five hits as the team struck out 11 times.

"Every game is important for us right now," manager Mark Kotsay said. "And regardless of personnel and injuries and illnesses, we've got to figure out a way to win a game."

Zack Gelof left the game with a deep laceration under his right kneecap. Gelof sustained the injury while making a sliding catch against the left field wall in foul territory for the first out of the third inning.

Gelof was wearing a knee brace after the game and is set to undergo an MRI on Friday.

"Playing the game to win, which is all we ask, and sacrificing his body to go into the fence and make the play," Kotsay said. "Incredible play and unfortunate that the injury occurred."

Right-hander Sean Burke will aim to get Chicago back on track. Burke (5-4, 3.56 ERA) is coming off a no-decision at Cleveland on Saturday, when he spaced one run and seven hits across six innings. He struck out a career-best 11 against zero walks.

Against the A's, Burke is 1-2 in three appearances (two starts) with a 6.59 ERA. The A's faced Burke twice in April 2025 and rocked him for a combined eight earned runs and 11 hits (including three home runs) in 8 2/3 innings.

The Athletics will counter with left-hander Jacob Lopez (4-3, 7.04). He has never faced the White Sox.