Orioles-White Sox Preview

CHICAGO -- Dylan Bundy will try to continue his stellar streak as the Baltimore Orioles aim to win their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon.

Bundy, a rookie right-hander, took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in each of his last two starts. He allowed one hit in a career-high seven shutout innings Tuesday against the Texas Rangers in his fourth major league start.

After the Orioles drafted him fourth overall in 2011, Bundy (4-3, 3.05 ERA) pitched in two major league games before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013 and dealing with shoulder soreness in 2015.

"He's pitching well and giving us a good potential to win on the day he pitches," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It's been a long process."

Bundy joined the rotation after he threw 38 relief innings. As a starter, he is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA. He has allowed three earned runs in 17 2/3 innings in his last three starts.

"Dylan has really developed a real mental toughness through all of it," Showalter said. "He already had it a little bit, but something you've done your whole life and all of a sudden it's kind of taken away from you and you're kind of wondering if you're going to be able to do it again, it makes you really savor and enjoy the good things that can come your way. It's actually made him a little better pitcher.

"He's developed some secondary pitches where he can go out there on some nights and not carry a big fastball and be able to survive. One of those rare guys who's 6-foot tall and can create some angle. ...Dylan's one of those guys who pitches tall."

In one career appearance against the White Sox, Bundy struck out one and allowed three hits in two scoreless innings.

The Orioles lead Toronto by percentage points in the American League East. Baltimore split the first two games of the series against the White Sox, who are third in the AL Central.

"September is the time to start looking at (the standings)," Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy said. "It's a little bit early. Fifty-something games is still a long time. Obviously, we're going out there trying to win every single game we can and see where we're at at the end."

For the White Sox, right-hander James Shields (5-13, 4.92) will start. He allowed six runs in five innings Tuesday in a loss to Detroit, ending a streak of six quality starts. He went 2-3 with a 1.78 ERA in July.

Shields is 11-7 with a 3.52 ERA in 26 career games against the Orioles.

Rookie shortstop Tim Anderson doubled and committed an error in his return to the White Sox lineup Saturday after he suffered a bruised left hand when he was hit by a pitch Thursday.

"Yesterday, I couldn't grip it, but today was the day where I could grip it real good," Anderson said. "I'd say I'm 90 to 95 percent."

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was dropped two spots to sixth in the lineup Saturday. He was hitting .218 entering the game. Showalter indicated the move could be temporary.

"Just fit better," Showalter said. "He'll be back up (Sunday). Every day we look at it."