Anderson, White Sox hoping to extend Orioles' woes Shortstop Tim Anderson and the Chicago White Sox have one more game scheduled for April, a Tuesday night visit from the Baltimore Orioles.The way things are going for Anderson, it's a shame the fourth month of the calendar year doesn't have another day tacked onto it.After belting a two-run home run in Monday's series opening victory against Baltimore, Anderson is hitting .375 with six home runs, 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases through 24 games."I'm having a lot more fun than I was last season, and the numbers are better," Anderson said.Thus far, Anderson's fourth Major League season is shaping up to be his best, by far. He and White Sox coaches have credited an improved confidence and work ethic for the surge.Anderson batted .240 in 153 games last season after hitting .257 in 146 games in 2017 and .283 in 99 games in his debut season of 2016.On Friday, Anderson displayed some of his renewed swagger after belting his first career walk-off home run, a solo shot against Detroit. An emphatic bat flip augmented a euphoric sequence at Guaranteed Rate Field."Those are the moments we prepare for," Anderson said. "I always want to be in that moment." The White Sox are aiming for their fourth straight victory after sweeping an abbreviated, two-game series against the Tigers over the weekend and taking the series opener against Baltimore.Right-hander Ivan Nova (0-3, 8.42 ERA) seeks his first victory as a member of the White Sox as he comes off a rough, four-inning outing against the Orioles in his most recent start, on April 23. Nova allowed nine runs on 11 hits, including the first four home runs he has permitted in 2019.Andrew Cashner gets the call for the Orioles, and will look to replicate last week's success against the White Sox. Cashner (4-1, 4.18 ERA) defeated Nova and Chicago with seven innings of one-run, five-hit ball, walking one and striking out five.Starts like those figure to go a long way for Baltimore, which has not had another pitcher work at least seven innings in 29 games. The Orioles pitching staff has allowed a Major League-high 71 home runs, and its 6.06 team ERA is the highest in baseball.Despite enduring their share of early-season bumps amid an ongoing rebuild, the Orioles have remained optimistic as a young core comes together."A lot of guys are hungry in this locker room," outfielder Dwight Smith told USA Today. "Nobody's coming here taking it for granted. Whenever you feel wanted, in anything, it's always a great thing to have." Much of the clubhouse lauds first-year Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde as a catalyst for the upbeat vibes. An animated, motivational speech Hyde delivered early in spring training still resonates with the team."Right after that meeting I thought, 'I'm ready to run through a brick wall for this guy, any day of the week,'" outfielder Trey Mancini told USA Today. "He's awesome to play for, and I think he brings the best out of all of us." --Field Level Media
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