Opposite dugout: White Sox flourishing behind stellar mound work

Manager: Rick Renteria (1st season)

Record: 15-12

Last 10 games: 7-3

Who to watch: RF Avasaíl García (.371/.419/.598 with 5 HR, 23 RBIs), 3B Matt Davidson (5 HR, 15 RBIs), 1B José Abreu (4 HR, 14 RBIs), RHP Miguel González (3-1, 3.27 ERA), LHP José Quintana (2-4, 4.10 ERA), RHP David Robertson (5 saves, 2.79 ERA)

Season series vs. Orioles: First meeting (3-4 in 2016)

Pitching probables:

May 5: RHP Miguel González vs. LHP Wade Miley, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
May 6: RHP Dylan Covey vs. RHP Dylan Bundy, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
May 7: LHP José Quintana vs. RHP Chris Tillman, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the White Sox:

The White Sox have allowed the fewest runs in the majors (95), have the best ERA (3.24) and have limited opponents to the lowest batting average (.226). If they were getting any offense at all, they might be much better than 15-12 and have a bigger lead in the toss-up that is the American League Central, where one game separates the top four teams. Rick Renteria, the guy bounced out of the north side so the Cubs could hire Joe Maddon two winters ago, is making good on his second opportunity as a major league manager and his pitching staff is picking up the slack until the offense can heat up. So far, so good - the White Sox are tied with the Indians atop the Central.

The White Sox were expecting a lot more from first baseman José Abreu, who hasn't yet discovered his power stroke. He has only four home runs and has driven in 14 runs. Luckily, right fielder Avasaíl García has been on fire early, slashing .371/.419/.598 with five home runs and a team-leading 23 RBIs. Third baseman Matt Davidson batted .368 in his first 12 games, but has slumped to a .276 average since. He was manning the hot corner while Todd Frazier recovered from a mid-April bout with the flu. Frazier has been hovering around the Mendoza line and flashing only spotty power. There hasn't been a lot of offense in the Windy City, with the White Sox ranking among the bottom six teams in the majors in all major offensive statistical categories.

Right-hander Miguel González, an Oriole form 2012-15, has been surprisingly effective in the early going, posting a 3-1 record and 3.27 ERA in five starts. He's worked at least six innings in four of those outings, but is coming off his worst outing after allowing seven runs (six earned) on 14 hits over six innings in a loss at Detroit on April 30. González lost his only career start against Baltimore last year, but is 17-14 with a 3.94 ERA lifetime at Camden Yards. Righty Dylan Covey, a Rule 5 pick out of the A's organization, is still searching for his first career victory after four major league starts and will try again Saturday night. He's pitched more than six innings only once while posting a 1.76 WHIP and 7.29 ERA. Covey has allowed five homers in 21 innings, so look for the Orioles to be aggressive in their initial meeting with him, as opponents are slashing .325/.404/.602 off the rookie. Sunday's finale gives the Orioles a look at lefty José Quintana, who was one of the most talked-about names on the offseason trade market. In five career starts against Baltimore, he's 1-3 with a 3.82 ERA, and Quintana has posted a 4.58 ERA and allowed six homers in 17 innings in three career starts at Camden Yards. His current 4.10 ERA is his high-water mark for the season and both of the southpaw's victories have come against the struggling Royals. Quintana's danger zone is the 16th to 30th pitches of an outing, when foes are slashing .368/.455/.526 against him.

The Pale Hose boast the third-best bullpen in the majors, with a cumulative 2.16 ERA. Closer David Robertson, another player whose name cropped up in trade rumors all winter, has converted five of six saves, working to a 2.79 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. But there will be some relievers in new roles after the White Sox placed top setup man Nate Jones (2.31 ERA, four holds) on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation before Thursday's game.