CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Tuesday he hasn’t lost faith that third baseman Brent Morel is going to be a productive hitter in the No. 2 slot this season.

Morel hasn’t gotten off to a strong start like he did a year ago. Last season, Morel compiled 10 hits in the team’s first seven games. This season, he’s had three hits in his first 29 at-bats and has a .103 batting average. He’s also second on the team in strikeouts with 13, including four in the past two games.

“I still think he’s going to be more of a contact hitter, hit line drives,” Ventura said prior to Tuesday’s game. “I believe that, believe in him doing that. He’s going to stay there. He just needs to be a little more aggressive in the zone, and things will turn around for him.”


Morel will bat in the No. 2 slot again on Tuesday against Baltimore Orioles left-handed starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 3.18). Here’s the rest of the White Sox’s lineup for Tuesday:

1. Alejandro De Aza -- CF

2. Brent Morel -- 3B

3. Adam Dunn -- 1B

4. Paul Konerko -- DH

5. A.J. Pierzynski -- C

6. Alex Rios -- RF

7. Alexei Ramirez -- SS

8. Dayan Viciedo -- LF

9. Gordon Beckham -- 2B

SP -- John Danks