Jose Quintana tries once again to state his case to stay in Chicago's rotation this afternoon when the White Sox close out a three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
With John Danks close to returning from his shoulder injury, it was assumed that Quintana would just return to the minors. However, the 23-year-old lefty has been impressive, posting a 2-1 mark to go along with a 1.98 ERA.
Quintana beat the defending world champion St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, holding them to a run and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out four without walking a batter.
"I knew they were a good hitting team, so I was focusing on trying to be in the inside to middle of the plate," said Quintana through a translator. "So, one of my biggest concentrations was giving them the cutter. I was trying to throw that cutter, especially deep in the count."
Quintana has given up two runs or less in all four of his starts this season.
"He's been a great surprise for us to come up and do what he has done," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "He has been lights out."
The Dodgers, meanwhile, will counter with lefty Chris Capuano, who is 8-2 with a 2.87 ERA. Capuano struggled with his command on Monday against the Angels, as he allowed two runs and eight hits in five innings, but walked four batters and did not get a decision in his team's 3-2 loss.
"The first three innings, I just felt as bad as I ever have mechanically," said Capuano, who came into the game 8-2 with a 2.82 ERA. "The last two games and the first three innings tonight, I've been having a lot of problems with command walking guys."
Capuano has never faced the White Sox.
Chicago overcame another shaky effort from Philip Humber on Saturday, but its bullpen was flawless in a 5-4 win.
"The big credit goes to our bullpen," Chicago manager Robin Ventura said. That's a tough lineup over there and they gave them no hits. They're the reason we won."
Humber (3-4) got the win, but is just 2-4 with a 7.47 earned run average in his last 10 outings since tossing a perfect game on April 21 against Seattle.
He was charged with all four of his runs in the third inning. Humber allowed nine hits and two walks in five frames for the White Sox, who snapped a three- game losing streak.
Chad Billingsley (4-5) was touched for five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and a walk for the Dodgers, who have alternated wins and losses over their last six games.
"The biggest thing about Chad is consistency," Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said. "His inconsistency is what's keeping him from taking the next step forward."
Chicago took two of three from the Dodgers last season and is 11-5 in the all-time matchup.
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