Red Sox ace Chris Sale will take the mound against his former team seeking a sweep as Boston hosts the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.

Sale (3-7, 3.59 ERA) renews acquaintances with the White Sox for the fourth time since he was traded to the Red Sox during the 2016 offseason. He beat Chicago last month, pitching six scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out 10.

That victory was the first of the season for Sale and began a run in which he's gone 3-2 with a 2.34 ERA while striking out 106 batters over 65 1/3 innings across 10 starts. His last time out, the left-hander gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings (101 pitches) against the Toronto Blue Jays in a no-decision on Friday.

Overall, Sale is 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA in his three previous starts against the White Sox. He will be opposed on Wednesday by Chicago right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (4-7, 6.23 ERA).

Lopez got the start for the White Sox in their last win, a 5-4, 10-inning victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday in which he allowed three runs on two homers in the first two innings. He settled down from there, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless the rest of the way in a no-decision.

Lopez has faced Boston twice in his career, including a defeat against Sale on May 3 in which he was tagged for six runs on eight hits over five innings.

The Red Sox have won the first two games of the series, including 6-3 on Tuesday, to complete the first half of their 162-game season with 44 wins.

"We'll take it," said manager Alex Cora, acknowledging all that went wrong for the defending champions earlier in the season. "We know we can be better. We've got certain goals, and we've got to finish strong before the All-Star break. Tomorrow, come here, finish this series."

The day represents an unusual getaway game for Boston, which will travel to London after for its historic two-game series across the pond with the rival New York Yankees. Then the club comes back to North America for series at Toronto and Detroit before the All-Star break.

The White Sox, meanwhile, will return home to end the first half with a nine-game homestand that begins Friday against the Minnesota Twins.

Chicago was dealt a blow midway through Tuesday's loss when shortstop Tim Anderson sustained a sprained right ankle on a running throw to first base during the fifth inning. X-rays were negative, and he will be re-evaluated Wednesday, the team announced.

"Your heart falls down because you're not really sure what's going on," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of seeing Anderson go down. "We'll see."

Anderson, 26, is in the midst of a breakout season. After collecting two hits before getting injured Tuesday, he's batting .317 with 11 home runs, 37 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.

Enjoying a breakout campaign for the Red Sox is third baseman Rafael Devers, who had four hits, including three doubles, in the Tuesday win. The 22-year-old has remained an offensive force despite playing through a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the team's game Sunday.

"He's not 100 percent, we know that, but he's able to play and he's playing under control," Cora said.

Boston has won five of its first six meetings with Chicago this season.

--Field Level Media