Series Preview: Pirates at White Sox

After hitting a big speed bump and Washington and taking a series in Milwaukee, the Pirates (19-16) conclude their road trip with two games on the south side of Chicago. The Pirates finished a tough little stretch of schedule versus the Cardinals, Nationals and Brewers at 5-5 and now face, in sequence, White Sox-Giants-White-Sox-Padres-Reds.

Rick Hahn has done an impressive job of adding talent to the White Sox organization the last couple years. That hasn’t yet taken effect at the Major League level, though, and the Sox are in the basement of the American League Central Division at 9-23.

Probably the most exciting player to make his way to the big team, Yoan Moncada, is on the disabled list, as is Avisail Garcia. Tim Anderson has speed and pop. Jose Abreu’s still there, probably to be used as trade bait. Pitchers both acquired from the Nationals in the Adam Eaton trade, Reynaldo Lopez has outperformed the once-heralded Lucas Giolito.

Schedule

Tuesday, 8:10 p.m. — Ivan Nova (2-2, 4.01 ERA) vs. Lucas Giolito (1-4, 7.03); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Wednesday, 2:10 p.m. — Trevor Williams (4-2, 2.63) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (0-2, 2.43); TV: AT&T SportsNet