The Pittsburgh Pirates will go for a series sweep of the Chicago White Sox tonight on the south side but not so fast. Chicago still has one of the best home records in baseball at 43-30 and is expected to have Hagen Smith on the bump. The southpaw will be making his first major league start and he has earned it. Out of the pen this year Smith has been lights out with a record of 3-1, a barely visible ERA at 0.56, and a 0.94 WHIP. In his last turn on Sunday against the Minnesota Twins he twirled three strong innings allowing no runs, no hits, while striking out four, and the White Sox went on to a 10-1 rout. Jared Jones is expected to get the nod for the Bucs and the White Sox could send him packing early. Jones does not have great numbers at 3-6 with a 4.46 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and the Pirates are 1-7 in his last 8 starts.
TONIGHT’S PICK: CHICAGO WHITE SOX