(Sports Network) - With Ben Sheets hitting the disabled list Dallas Braden will head to the hill for Oakland, as the Athletics battle the Chicago White Sox this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at the Coliseum.
Sheets, who was suppose to start for the A's this afternoon and who is 2-2 in his last four outings, will head to the DL with an injury to the same elbow that kept him away from baseball all of last season. Sheets is no stranger to the disabled list, as this will be the hard-throwing right-hander's seventh trip.
As for Braden, he is making his second start since returning from the disabled list. On Tuesday against Boston the southpaw did not last long in his return to the rotation, surrendering four runs -- one earned -- on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Braden did strike out six batters, but remained winless for Oakland since tossing his perfect game on Mother's Day.
The California native has made 10 starts at the Coliseum this season and despite having a 3-4 ledger, the lefty possesses a solid 3.06 ERA.
This will be the second career outing for Braden against Chicago. In his only other meeting with the Pale hoes, Braden surrendered three runs in seven innings and struck out four batters in a no decision.
The White Sox will rely on Daniel Hudson, who will be making his third start since being called up from Charlotte. After a rough outing in his debut against Seattle, the Virginia native was much more effective against Seattle, as he held the Mariners to just one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The young hurler collected six strike outs and overcame four walks for the win.
Hudson made one relief appearance against Oakland in his brief career and in 2 1/3 innings of work, the right-hander surrendered two runs on five hits.
On Saturday, Kurt Suzuki had three hits, including a home run, to lead the Athletics in a 10-2 rout of the White Sox.
Suzuki, who signed a contract extension on Friday, scored twice and knocked in two runs for the Athletics, who have won eight of 10 and improved to 23-10 in day games this season. Jack Cust homered twice and walked three times, while Daric Barton had two hits and two RBI in the victory.
Vin Mazzaro (6-2) pitched six solid innings for the win, allowing two runs, three hits and three walks while fanning five.
Ramon Castro's two-run homer provided Chicago's lone offense, as the White Sox lost for the fifth time in eight games. Freddy Garcia (9-4) was blasted for five runs, six hits and three walks in just 1 1/3 frames to take the loss.