Preview: Indians at White Sox
Gracenote
Jun 13, 2018
The Chicago White Sox put their home-run drought in the rear-view mirror and look to string together back-to-back wins when they host the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. The White Sox had gone six games without a homer before Yoan Moncada and Yolmer Sanchez went deep to lead off the first inning during Tuesday’s 5-1 victory.
Chicago ended May by losing three straight at Cleveland but has gone 7-5 this month to climb out of last place in the AL Central with the help of a pitching staff that has posted a 2.74 ERA over the last 12 contests. Dylan Covey hopes to continue that solid stretch when he takes the mound for the White Sox in the third contest of the four-game series while the Indians counter with Trevor Bauer, who owns a 2.17 ERA in seven road starts. Cleveland, which has a comfortable five-game lead in the division, lost for just the second time in seven contests Tuesday as it managed just one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position. Francisco Lindor recorded two hits in the setback and is 5-for-12 with three doubles and a walk over his last three contests for the Indians, who have won 17 of 24 against Chicago since the beginning of last season.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (5-4, 2.62 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Covey (2-1, 2.22)
Bauer limited Detroit to one run on seven hits and one walk while reaching double figures in strikeouts (12) for the third straight outing last time out. The 27-year-old UCLA product, who has yielded eight earned runs and registered 52 strikeouts over his last five starts, has served up just five homers in 13 outings - two in the last seven turns. Jose Abreu is 10-for-34 with a pair of doubles versus Bauer, who is 6-2 with a 3.55 ERA against Chicago in his career.
Covey has not permitted an earned run in his last two starts after giving up five runs - two earned - over 4 1/3 innings at Cleveland on May 28. The 26-year-old Californian has allowed one unearned run on seven hits and four walks with 14 strikeouts across 11 frames in his last two outings. Yonder Alonso has recorded a double in two at-bats against Covey, who has been much better at home (3.76 ERA) than on the road (7.80) while in the major leagues.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland OF Lonnie Chisenhall is 9-for-27 with three RBIs in seven contests since coming off the disabled list.
2. Abreu is just 0-for-8 in the series but has notched 20 of his 25 doubles in the last 33 games.
3. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez owns a four-game hitting streak but has hit just one homer in 10 contests this month after belting 11 in May.
PREDICTION: Indians 6, White Sox 3
Gracenote
Jun 13, 2018
The Chicago White Sox put their home-run drought in the rear-view mirror and look to string together back-to-back wins when they host the American League Central-leading Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. The White Sox had gone six games without a homer before Yoan Moncada and Yolmer Sanchez went deep to lead off the first inning during Tuesday’s 5-1 victory.
Chicago ended May by losing three straight at Cleveland but has gone 7-5 this month to climb out of last place in the AL Central with the help of a pitching staff that has posted a 2.74 ERA over the last 12 contests. Dylan Covey hopes to continue that solid stretch when he takes the mound for the White Sox in the third contest of the four-game series while the Indians counter with Trevor Bauer, who owns a 2.17 ERA in seven road starts. Cleveland, which has a comfortable five-game lead in the division, lost for just the second time in seven contests Tuesday as it managed just one hit in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position. Francisco Lindor recorded two hits in the setback and is 5-for-12 with three doubles and a walk over his last three contests for the Indians, who have won 17 of 24 against Chicago since the beginning of last season.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (5-4, 2.62 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Covey (2-1, 2.22)
Bauer limited Detroit to one run on seven hits and one walk while reaching double figures in strikeouts (12) for the third straight outing last time out. The 27-year-old UCLA product, who has yielded eight earned runs and registered 52 strikeouts over his last five starts, has served up just five homers in 13 outings - two in the last seven turns. Jose Abreu is 10-for-34 with a pair of doubles versus Bauer, who is 6-2 with a 3.55 ERA against Chicago in his career.
Covey has not permitted an earned run in his last two starts after giving up five runs - two earned - over 4 1/3 innings at Cleveland on May 28. The 26-year-old Californian has allowed one unearned run on seven hits and four walks with 14 strikeouts across 11 frames in his last two outings. Yonder Alonso has recorded a double in two at-bats against Covey, who has been much better at home (3.76 ERA) than on the road (7.80) while in the major leagues.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland OF Lonnie Chisenhall is 9-for-27 with three RBIs in seven contests since coming off the disabled list.
2. Abreu is just 0-for-8 in the series but has notched 20 of his 25 doubles in the last 33 games.
3. Indians 3B Jose Ramirez owns a four-game hitting streak but has hit just one homer in 10 contests this month after belting 11 in May.
PREDICTION: Indians 6, White Sox 3