(Photo credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images)

While a scuffling pitching staff is one reason the Los Angeles Angels have lost five in a row and nine of their past 10 games, the men charged with guiding them continue to preach patience.

As visiting Los Angeles aims to avoid a three-game series sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday afternoon, Angels pitching coach Mike Maddux is quick to avoid jumping to conclusions.

Even as opponents have had success against a staff that has squandered leads of six and four runs since Sunday.

'I like the guys. They like themselves,' Maddux said. 'We keep them positive. Our job is to motivate and instruct and teach, and we continue to do that. And all we need is a good bounce and things get back on a roll.'

So the Angels will go Wednesday with starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (0-3, 6.21 ERA), who followed a quality start against San Diego on April 18 with Friday's loss in Kansas City. The left-hander allowed five runs -- all in the fourth inning -- and five hits while walking two and striking out five in the 6-3 game.

'One inning got him. ... Other than that, I thought his stuff was as good as it has been all year,' Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. 'It's a long season. He's showing some improvement.'

Chicago has won the first two contests of the series to stop its home series losing streak at two games.

Backup catcher Drew Romo homered twice -- his first career home runs -- and Colson Montgomery also went deep to key Tuesday's 5-2 victory. Montgomery also had a pair of hits, as the White Sox finished with nine in the game to match Los Angeles.

Chicago outfielder Everson Pereira left the game with right shoulder soreness in the fifth inning and is day-to-day. Austin Hays, who recently returned from rehabbing a strained right hamstring at Triple-A Charlotte, replaced Pereira in left field and later moved to right.

White Sox manager Will Venable this week praised Hays' versatility on the field and his leadership off of it.

'Excited to have Austin back,' Venable said. 'He's one of our experienced guys, our veteran guys, that has been through every situation out there. Our guys lean on (Hays) for advice and wisdom and (he) brings a ton of positive energy to our group.'

Right-hander Erick Fedde will get the call for the White Sox.

Fedde (0-3, 3.42) has recorded two straight no-decisions after losing his first three starts of the season. He faced the Washington Nationals in the opener of the homestand on Friday, allowing three runs (one earned) and three hits in 5 2/3 innings of Chicago's 5-4 win.

Fedde struck out just one Washington batter. He has walked four in each of his past two starts.

Kikuchi is 2-3 with a 4.79 ERA in seven career starts against the White Sox, with 34 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.

Fedde has pitched seven scoreless innings against the Angels in his career over two appearances, including one start.

--Field Level Media