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Athletics-White Sox Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 6:22 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Oakland (21-30) at Chicago (25-27), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago White Sox haven't shown much of a spark at the plate this season. They hope their top prospect will provide one.

Gordon Beckham is expected to make his major league debut Thursday when the White Sox look for a split of their four-game series with the AL-worst Oakland Athletics.

Chicago (25-27) is hitting just .254 and has been blanked seven times this season, including 5-0 to Oakland (21-30) on Tuesday.

The lack of offense may have played a part in the decision to purchase Beckham's contract from Triple-A Charlotte following Wednesday's 5-3 defeat. The 22-year-old will reach the majors one day short of one year after being drafted eighth overall out of Georgia.

Beckham batted .326 with 23 doubles, four homers and 25 RBIs in 45 games at Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte this season. He has played shortstop, second and third base.

"One thing I'm worried about is can he handle all the positions I'm going to play him," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I'm going to give him a good percentage of at-bats coming to the big leagues."

Three Oakland starters have pitched against the White Sox for the first time in their careers in this set. Trevor Cahill gave up two runs and three hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 6-2 loss Monday. Vin Mazzaro scattered three hits through 6 1-3 innings in Tuesday's shutout win, and Josh Outman overcame some early jitters to improve to 3-0 with Wednesday's triumph.

Opposing pitchers are 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA in nine starts this year when facing the White Sox for the first time in their careers.

"We lost against another rookie," Guillen said. "Quote me on this: The Oakland A's are going to have a tremendous pitching staff the next two or three years."

Guillen will get another look at the A's future when Brett Anderson (2-5, 5.70 ERA) takes the hill. After winning his previous two starts, the left-hander allowed a season-high six runs and eight hits in four innings of a 14-1 loss to Texas on Saturday.

Anderson is 1-2 with a 6.46 ERA on the road.

Mark Buehrle (6-1, 2.71), who failed to get a decision in his last two starts, will go for the White Sox. He gave up three runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-3 win over Kansas City on Saturday.

The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in six starts at U.S. Cellular Field. He's 0-3 with 4.12 ERA in his last three starts versus Oakland, and 3-11 with a 4.09 ERA in 19 career starts against the A's.

Jason Giambi, who hit his seventh homer Wednesday, is 9 for 22 (.409) with two home runs and three doubles against Buehrle.

Giambi's homer was one of three the A's hit. They've scored 17 runs and hit eight homers over the last four games after scoring seven times and hitting two homers in a four-game losing streak.

"We've had to manufacture some runs, but when guys can hit the ball out of the park and score some runs that way, it's always nice as well," said Bobby Crosby, who recorded his second homer Tuesday.