Indians at White Sox
The Chicago White Sox have climbed into a tie for second place in the American League Central with five straight wins and look to seize the position for themselves when they host the stumbling Cleveland Indians on Saturday afternoon. Four different players recorded multiple hits in Chicago’s 6-1 victory over Cleveland on Friday to take the first two games of the series and draw even with the Indians at 28-29.
Yolmer Sanchez had two singles and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to six games (10-for-22) for the White Sox while Yonder Alonso has punished his former teammates by going 4-for-7 with three runs scored in the series for Chicago. Veteran Ivan Nova will attempt to beat Cleveland for the second time within a month when he takes the mound for the White Sox against fellow right-hander Jefry Rodriguez, who is looking for his second victory of the season after dropping the last three decisions. The Indians earned two inspiring victories to end their series at reigning World Series champion Boston to start the week, but has been outscored 16-5 in the first two games in Chicago after going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position Friday. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor homered for Cleveland’s only run Friday and teammate Jose Ramirez may be starting to warm up while going 6-for-14 with four doubles in his last four contests.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Jefry Rodriguez (1-5, 4.99 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Ivan Nova (3-4, 6.52)
After posting his first win of the season, Rodriguez has struggled in the last three starts while allowing 16 runs (14 earned) on 22 hits across 15 innings. The 25-year-old Dominican walked seven in 8 1/3 frames the last two games and posted a 6.33 ERA in May after recording a 2.13 mark in two April starts. James McCann is 2-for-3 versus Rodriguez, who gave up two runs across six innings in a 2-0 loss to the White Sox on May 7.
Nova has won three of his last four decisions, including May 6 at Cleveland when he permitted one run on eight hits over seven innings in a 9-1 victory. The 32-year-old Dominican is 3-1 with a 5.08 ERA in May after going 0-3 with an 8.42 mark in five April starts and has served up 11 homers in 11 total outings. Jason Kipnis is 6-for-10 with two doubles and a homer against Nova, who is 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA in five career starts versus the Indians.
WALK-OFFS
1. Kipnis has reached base in 24 of his last 25 contests and is 7-for-22 during a five-game hitting streak.
2. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu knocked in a run Friday and has 40 RBIs over his last 39 games.
3. Cleveland CF Greg Allen is 5-for-15 with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs in the last four contests.