White Sox at Indians
The Cleveland Indians continue to battle injury issues as they try to hold onto a playoff position in the American League and look to start moving forward again when the struggling Chicago White Sox pay a visit Monday for the first of four contests. The Indians were outscored 21-8 while getting swept in three games at Tampa Bay over the weekend and sit one-half game ahead of Oakland for the AL’s second wild card.
Cleveland lost red-hot third baseman Jose Ramirez (right hand) indefinitely on Aug. 24, outfielder Tyler Naquin tore his ACL on Friday after running into the wall making a catch and second baseman Jason Kipnis will see a hand specialist Monday after missing Sunday’s 8-2 setback. The Indians will try to take advantage of the struggling White Sox when they send impressive rookie right-hander Aaron Civale to the mound for the series opener, and Chicago is expected to counter with veteran lefty Ross Detwiler. The White Sox will attempt to avoid matching a season-high seven-game losing streak Monday after dropping a 5-3 decision at Atlanta on Sunday and have allowed 44 runs in their last five contests. Chicago slugger Jose Abreu, who is riding a five-game hitting streak (9-for-19), needs two homers for his fourth season with at least 30 blasts and 100 RBIs and one extra-base hit for 400 in his career.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Ross Detwiler (2-4, 6.45 ERA) vs. Indians RH Aaron Civale (2-3, 1.96)
Detwiler is slated to make his ninth start of the season after giving up three runs on one hit and two walks while retiring just one batter in a relief appearance on Saturday. The 33-year-old Missouri State product gave up five runs on six hits across four innings of a loss in his last start on Aug. 28 against Minnesota. Detwiler is 0-2 with an 11.05 ERA on the road this season as he prepares to face Cleveland for the first time in his career.
Civale has recorded quality starts in five of his first six big league outings after beating Detroit with seven innings of two-run ball on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Connecticut native has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his outings with the Indians while striking out 30 and walking just six over 36 2/3 innings. Civale meets the White Sox for the first time and has permitted one run over 12 innings at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago SS Tim Anderson has registered multiple hits in 11 of his last 17 games after going 2-for-3 on Sunday.
2. Cleveland INF Mike Freeman is 10-for-20 with eight runs scored and five RBIs in his last eight contests.
3. The White Sox have won seven of the first 12 meetings this season, including a 3-3 mark in Cleveland.