White Sox at Indians
Jose Ramirez was sporting a wide smile and a wet jersey, with both the result of his game-winning two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning of his last outing. The light-hitting Cleveland Indians hope both are back on display on Thursday afternoon, when they conclude their four-game series versus the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Prior to its dramatic 5-3 win on Wednesday, Cleveland had been outscored 21-1 while totaling just 17 hits during a three-game losing streak. Ramirez collected two of the Indians' 12 hits on Wednesday and carries a 17-game streak of successfully reaching base into the series finale. Chicago's Jose Abreu has homered in three of his last five contests heading into a matchup versus Carlos Carrasco, against whom he is just 8-for-43 with 12 strikeouts in his career. Ryan Cordell is 3-for-7 in the series, including a game-tying two-run single in the seventh inning on Wednesday.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Manny Banuelos (2-1, 5.96 ERA) vs. Indians RH Carlos Carrasco (2-3, 5.60)
Banuelos' last start went south in a hurry, as he answered retiring the first eight batters he faced by allowing nine runs on 10 straight hits before exiting in the third inning against Boston on Saturday. Three homers served as the big blasts permitted by the 28-year-old, who had been taken deep on just two occasions in his previous six trips to the mound. Banuelos, who has yet to face Cleveland or any member of the club, will be making his 15th appearance and 10th career start on Thursday.
Carrasco surrendered a career-high four homers -- all solo shots -- over a season-high 7 2/3 innings but walked away with a no-decision versus Seattle on Saturday. The 32-year-old Venezuelan has allowed four runs in back-to-back trips to the mound on the heels of a pair of scoreless outings in which he scattered five hits over 11 frames. Yoan Moncada (0-for-10, eight strikeouts), James McCann (4-for-24, 10) and Yonder Alonso (2-for-12) have struggled mightily versus Carrasco, who owns an 8-10 record and 3.98 ERA in 25 career appearances (23 starts) against Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago LHP Aaron Bummer has allowed two hits and struck out nine batters in seven innings of relief since being promoted last month.
2. Cleveland RF Tyler Naquin is 5-for-14 with five RBIs with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.
3. Moncada has registered seven hits -- including two homers -- to go along with eight RBIs and five runs in five games against the Indians this year.