First-place White Sox out to tag Braves with first series sweep of season

The major-league-leading Atlanta Braves lost three consecutive games in the first week of April but have not suffered a series sweep this season.

The surging -- and now division-leading -- Chicago White Sox will aim to change that on Thursday night in the finale of their three-game series against the visiting Braves.

Chicago edged Atlanta 2-1 on Wednesday to secure a series victory. Coupled with a Cleveland Guardians loss to the New York Yankees, the White Sox (36-31) climbed to the top of the American League Central standings for the first time since the final day of the 2021 season.

"I feel like it's just a group that enjoys being around each other," Chicago rookie right fielder Braden Montgomery said of his teammates.

Forging their way to a new perch has come in part because of a crop of jelling newcomers. Twelve White Sox have made their MLB debuts this season. The latest, Montgomery, has two hits in each of his first two games, including a walk-off home run against Atlanta in his debut on Tuesday.

Jorge Mateo collected two hits for the Braves on Wednesday, but Atlanta went just 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position while leaving 10 on base. Michael Harris II, who shifted to the leadoff spot with Ronald Acuna Jr. (left hamstring tightness) on the injured list, was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

"Our offense has been really good this year," Braves manager Walt Weiss said. "Typically, when we've stalled a little bit, we've bounced back with a vengeance. And I expect that's what we'll do."

Left-hander Martin Perez is slated to start for Atlanta on Thursday as he tries for his third straight win. Perez (4-3, 3.02 ERA) was with the White Sox last season and signed as a free agent with the Braves.

He pitched four perfect innings among the five frames he delivered against visiting Pittsburgh on Friday. Perez scattered three runs and three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a 6-3 win.

"He finds a way to get through five and put us in position to win," Weiss said. "He bends, but he doesn't break. He's been great. I didn't think he had his best stuff (Friday), but he finds a way."

Perez, who is pitching for his seventh team, was 1-6 with a 3.54 ERA in 11 appearances with the White Sox last season, including 10 starts. He's 5-3 with a 5.16 ERA vs. Chicago in his career.

Left-hander Anthony Kay (5-1, 4.40 ERA) will start on Thursday for Chicago, which has won 18 of its past 21 games at home.

After going 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA in six May starts, Kay was hit hard during Friday's no-decision at the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing six runs and seven hits, including two homers, in four innings. He walked two and struck out four in an 8-6 loss.

"I let them dictate the at-bats a little bit. I was deep into counts. Letting them see a lot of pitches," Kay said. "Obviously, I wasn't aggressive."

Kay pitched two innings of scoreless relief in his only outing against the Braves on Aug. 4, 2020, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. He scattered a walk, an intentional walk and three strikeouts.

--Field Level Media