When the Toronto Blue Jays were beginning their search for a starting pitcher last off-season, the Chicago White Sox acquired someone who didn’t garner much attention north of the border.
That player was 27-year-old Cuban defector Jose Abreu, who is now putting up MVP-type numbers in his first major-league season with Chicago.
Abreu signed a six-year, $68-million contract in late October – just before the start of the MLB free agency period – and he’ll be making his first-ever trip to Rogers Centre for this weekend’s four-game set against the Blue Jays.
With the decline of Paul Konerko, Abreu has provided much-needed power to the middle of the White Sox lineup. Entering play Thursday, the slugger ranks third in the MLB in home runs (23), fourth in RBIs (61), and sixth in OPS (.940). In 274 plate appearances, he is batting .276/.325/.615/.940 with 16 doubles, 16 walks, and 70 strikeouts.
Abreu has nine more home runs than any other rookie in the league (George Springer of Houston has 14), but he’s nothing like your typical MLB freshman. He came into the majors with 10 years of experience in Cuba and despite never seeing big-league pitching, he is having success against many of the MLB’s top arms. Abreu has already homered off three former Cy Young winners including Clayton Kershaw, David Price, and Justin Verlander (OK, maybe Verlander’s not pitching like an ace this year).
“He’s up there ready to hit, and he has 11 or 12 hits against us,” Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told ESPN Chicago earlier this month. “Most of them seem like they’re extra-base hits, probably eight or nine extra-base hits. Honestly, I love the way the guy carries himself. He just goes about his business. He’s not flashy. He does his job. He’s been impressive, and certainly he’s hurt us a number of times with his bat.”
In Chicago’s lone appearance in Toronto this season, Blue Jays fans and pitchers had better be on notice for Abreu.
WHERE THEY SIT:
The White Sox currently sit in fifth place in the AL Central with a record of 36-43. They are eight-and-half games back of the division-leading Tigers and six games out of a wild card position. The club, which has a 15-25 road record, has only recorded three wins in its last 10 games.
THE BATS:
Chicago doesn’t have a lineup full of potential all-stars, but they are a quietly effective offence. The White Sox rank seventh in the MLB in runs scored (345), eighth in hits (696), ninth in home runs (78), and 10th in OPS (.722).
Outside of Abreu, one player who is having a nice offensive season is Alexei Ramirez. The 32-year-old shortstop has 91 hits, seven home runs and a batting average of .297 with 13 steals in 79 games.
THE ARMS:
The White Sox offer a myriad of left-handed pitchers, which could limit one of the league’s most prolific offences this weekend. Toronto has a few notable lefty bats — Adam Lind, Colby Rasmus and Anthony Gose, for example – who are far less effective against southpaws. That’s why it was no surprise when the Blue Jays made a roster move to recall right-handed hitting outfielder Brad Glenn from triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.
It isn’t all bad news for the Blue Jays as Chicago on the most part has a relatively average pitching staff. The starting rotation ranks 22nd in MLB in innings pitched with the fifth-highest ERA, and the fifth-highest walk rate (3.23 per nine innings). As a team, the White Sox have also allowed the second most runs in the American League.
WHO THE JAYS WILL SEE:
Scott Carroll (Thursday): Carroll has spent the majority of the season as a reliever. He will be making his first start since May 19 after the club decided to move Andre Rienzo to the bullpen. Carroll went 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in five starts earlier this year.
John Danks (Friday): Danks had been on a roll — three straight wins while only allowing four earned runs in 20.2 innings — before an ugly start in Minnesota where he gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in a 6-5 loss to the Twins. He may not have fond memories of the Rogers Centre. He once got into a screaming match with Jose Bautista after allowing a home run during the 2011 season.
Chris Sale (Saturday): Sale is the ace of the staff and a potential Cy Young candidate. He has allowed just 11 earned runs over his last 44.0 innings and has struck out 49 batters during that stretch. He has 78 strikeouts in 71.1 innings on the season with an ERA of 2.27.
Jose Quintana (Sunday): Quintana shut down the Baltimore Orioles in his last start with seven innings of one-run ball. He earned his first victory since May 26 and comes into Toronto with a 3.36 ERA in 10 road starts, as compared a 4.25 ERA in his six starts at home.
