The Chicago White Sox return to Rate Field on Sunday, July 12, to host the Athletics in a 2:10 PM CT afternoon matchup. Left-hander Noah Schultz gets the ball for Chicago against Oakland's J.T. Ginn in what shapes up as a compelling young-arms showdown. Both pitchers are carving out their footing at the major league level, which means this one could turn on which staff gets the better of the back-and-forth early. Catch it on Chicago Sports Network or ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM.
Probable Starters: Noah Schultz vs. J.T. Ginn
Noah Schultz has been one of the more closely watched arms in the White Sox organization, and every start he makes at the big league level carries weight as the franchise works through its rebuild. The young lefty operates with a repertoire built around deception and movement, and his home starts at Rate Field give the Sox a chance to see what he looks like in front of a familiar crowd with the pressure of a divisional context.
J.T. Ginn draws the assignment for the Athletics. Like Schultz, Ginn is a relatively young arm still establishing himself in the rotation picture, which makes this an interesting mirror matchup. Neither pitcher comes in with the kind of lengthy track record that lets you write a firm prediction, so the details — pitch count management, early-count discipline, how each handles lineup turnover — will matter significantly.
Keys to Watch in Sunday's Game
- Schultz's command early: How Schultz attacks the zone in the first two innings will set the tone. If he's working efficiently and getting outs on the ground, the White Sox defense has a chance to keep the Athletics off the board.
- Offensive discipline against Ginn: Ginn has the stuff to make undisciplined hitters uncomfortable. The White Sox lineup will need to work counts and look for pitches to drive rather than chasing early in the count.
- Bullpen management: With two starters who are still building innings loads, both managers will be watching pitch counts closely. The team that navigates the middle innings more cleanly likely controls this one.
- Rate Field atmosphere: A Sunday afternoon home game is exactly the kind of environment where the Sox need to build momentum. The crowd energy at Rate Field on a summer afternoon can be a genuine factor when a young pitcher is grinding through a tough inning.
Prediction
This is a game that could easily go either way given the uncertainty around both starters' current form. That said, the White Sox get the home-field edge and Schultz gets to work in front of his own fans. Look for a close, low-scoring game that comes down to which bullpen steps up in the sixth and seventh innings. Slight edge to Chicago, 4-2, but don't blink.
