Jacob deGrom in vintage form as Rangers face White Sox

The Texas Rangers will send the closest example of a sure thing to the mound when they battle the improving Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon in the middle contest of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.

Rangers ace right-hander Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.12 ERA) will get the start. The White Sox are expected to counter with a bullpen game as they deal with a shortened rotation with Jonathan Cannon sidelined with a lower back strain.

Texas won the series opener 3-1 on Friday as Josh Smith homered and scored all three of the Rangers' runs to back the work of seven pitchers. Texas has won five of its past six while the White Sox have dropped three straight.

deGrom has won both his starts in June while allowing one run on six hits over 13 innings. He threw seven scoreless innings at Washington on June 7, allowing only two hits and no walks while striking out eight on 81 pitches as Texas prevailed 5-0.

"(Against the Nationals) I felt a little bit smoother than I have all year," deGrom said. "It was more consistent. It's a feel thing. It's hard to explain. But I just felt more comfortable."

deGrom has surrendered two runs or fewer in 10 consecutive starts, posting a 1.61 ERA over that span.

"It's hard to quantify how much (deGrom) means to the club," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's just so consistent, and he sends such a sense of confidence when he's on the mound. He does mean a lot to this team."

deGrom has two no-decisions and a 1.29 ERA in his pair of career starts against the White Sox, allowing two runs on 10 hits over 14 innings with four walks and 21 strikeouts. The Saturday appearance will be his first against the South Siders since he was with the New York Mets in 2019.

The White Sox are playing better lately, going 5-5 over their past 10 games as their attitude turns away from just competing well to winning games and series. On Friday, Chicago had the potential winning run on base in the ninth inning but couldn't get the hit needed to tie the game or produce a victory.

"You're starting to feel a change from, 'Way to go, we competed,' to, 'We're upset that we didn't win the game,'" Chicago manager Will Venable said. "That's the reflection of the growth of this club, and I think that's what you earn by playing good baseball."

The last time Chicago employed a bullpen game, right-hander Mike Vasil (3-2, 2.18 ERA) started, and he will get the call again on Saturday. Against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, Vasil went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in a game the White Sox lost 7-5.

The White Sox bolstered their starting staff by acquiring right-hander Aaron Civale from Milwaukee via a trade on Friday, sending first baseman Andrew Vaughn and cash to the Brewers. Civale is 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in five starts this season.

Venable said before the Friday game that Civale would start on Sunday afternoon.

--Field Level Media