The Baltimore Orioles try to sweep a 3-game series against the Chicago White Sox this Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field. After a frustrating start to the 2026 campaign that saw them swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Orioles have found their footing in the Windy City. Behind the power of Gunnar Henderson and a resilient bullpen, Baltimore has taken the first two games of the set and now looks to pull their season record back to the .500 mark.
Henderson’s Power Surge Leads the Charge
The story of this series has been the bat of Gunnar Henderson. The star shortstop has homered in back-to-back games, providing the definitive blow in Tuesday’s 4-2 victory. In that contest, Henderson broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth inning with a towering two-run home run to center field off White Sox reliever Jordan Hicks. It was Henderson’s fourth home run of the young season, and his ability to deliver in high-leverage moments has been the catalyst for Baltimore’s recent success.
Henderson wasn't the only contributor in the late-inning rally. Blaze Alexander sparked the eighth-inning surge with a one-out double, followed by an RBI double from Taylor Ward to tie the game. Despite leaving 14 runners on base and struggling with a 3-for-15 mark with runners in scoring position, the Orioles' persistence eventually wore down the Chicago pitching staff.
Pitching Preview: Bradish Takes the Mound as Orioles Try to Sweep 3-Game Series
For the series finale, the Orioles try to sweep a 3-game series behind right-hander Kyle Bradish. Bradish has had a rocky start to the 2026 season, currently sitting at 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA. Baltimore is hoping that the momentum from the first two wins will provide Bradish with the run support needed to earn his first victory of the year. Historically, the Orioles have dominated this matchup, posting a 23-5 record against the White Sox since the start of the 2022 season.
Opposing Bradish is Chicago’s Sean Burke. The right-hander has been a bright spot in a struggling White Sox rotation, carrying a 3.60 ERA despite an 0-1 record. Burke will be tasked with cooling off an Orioles lineup that has regained its confidence. The White Sox (4-7) are looking to salvage the final game of their homestand after dropping to fifth in the AL Central following Tuesday’s loss.
Bullpen Stability and Defensive Resilience
While the offense has grabbed the headlines, Baltimore’s bullpen has been nearly flawless in Chicago. Yennier Cano earned the win on Tuesday with a perfect eighth inning, while Ryan Helsley secured his fourth save of the season in the ninth. Although Helsley allowed a walk to Dustin Harris, he recovered to strike out Tristan Peters and Munetaka Murakami to seal the win.
The White Sox offense has shown flashes of life, specifically through Chase Meidroth and Lenyn Sosa. Meidroth drove in a run with a double in the third inning of Game 2, and Sosa followed with an RBI single to give Chicago an early 2-0 lead. However, the White Sox were unable to add on against Orioles starter Trevor Rogers, who settled in to pitch six solid innings, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out six.
Injury Updates and Roster Moves
Both teams are dealing with significant early-season injuries that could impact the depth of this series finale:
- Baltimore Orioles: The team recently transferred pitcher Zach Eflin (elbow) to the 60-day injured list. Third baseman Jordan Westburg (elbow) is progressing and expected to begin a throwing program this week.
- Chicago White Sox: Outfielder Brooks Baldwin is out for the season following internal brace surgery to repair a right UCL tear. Munetaka Murakami was out of the lineup Tuesday but returned as a pinch-hitter and is expected to be available for the finale.
With temperatures expected to remain in the mid-30s at Guaranteed Rate Field, conditions will be challenging for both squads. As the Orioles try to sweep a 3-game series, they will rely on their historical dominance over Chicago and the red-hot bat of Gunnar Henderson to finish the job before returning to Baltimore for their home opener.
Sources & Original Reporting
