“I’m not looking to hit 30 homers or anything like that. I’m just trying to play baseball,” said Abreu, in his fourth major league season. “Whatever God has planned for me this season, I’m going to be happy with it. I’m just trying to stay healthy, be on the field every day and whatever happens, happens.”
“I think he’s very aware of his swing and when that thing gets short and compact, it gets really, really loud,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said.
As a team, the Red Sox have now homered in nine straight games and have shut out their opponent on 11 occasions this season.
Ranger Suarez is set for his third start since returning from a left groin strain in late July, making his first career start against the White Sox on Thursday.
Luis Castillo, acquired at the deadline, is on the mound for Chicago.
Here’s a preview of Thursday’s action.
WHITE SOX (59-54): Meidroth 2B, Murakami 1B, Vargas 3B, Grichuk DH, C. Montgomery SS, Bart C, Doyle CF, B. Montgomery RF, Acuna LF
Pitching: RHP Luis Castillo (3-9, 5.06 ERA)
RED SOX (62-51): Sogard 1B, Rafaela CF, Abreu RF, Durbin 3B, Yoshida DH, Monasterio SS, Duran LF, Seigler 2B, Wong C
Pitching: LHP Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.15 ERA)
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
White Sox vs. Suarez: Luisangel Acuña 1-2, Joey Bart 1-4, Andrew Benintendi 0-1, Brenton Doyle 2-9, Randal Grichuk 3-9, Miguel Vargas 0-2
Red Sox vs. Castillo: Wilyer Abreu 1-4, Willson Contreras 10-22, Jarren Duran 3-14, Caleb Durbin 2-2, Andruw Monasterio 0-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-5, Jake Rogers 1-5, Anthony Seigler 0-2, Connor Wong 1-7, Masataka Yoshida 5-8
Stat of the day: The Red Sox have won nine series in a row.
Notes: Castillo takes the mound for the first time since being acquired from the Mariners at the trade deadline. … “This is the sixth time that I’ve been traded, so nothing new for me,” Castillo said. “Different team, different jersey, but the same energy. I could see that this was a team that liked to fight, liked to compete. It’s a bunch of kids and they’re hungry to win.” … Castillo is 2-3 with a 5.34 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the Red Sox. … On Wednesday, the White Sox were shut out for the eighth time this season. … Chicago has lost seven of its past 12 games.
Cam Kerry can be reached at cam.kerry@globe.com.
