White Sox at Indians
THE STORY: A long day on Tuesday ended with both teams back where they started. After splitting a day-night doubleheader, the Cleveland Indians still lead the Chicago White Sox by 1 1/2 games in their battle for second place in the American League Central. Their four-game series continues Wednesday in Cleveland. Chicago has won 10 of the 15 games in the season series, which concludes Thursday.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CS Chicago, STO (Cleveland).
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Mark Buehrle (11-9, 3.74 ERA) vs. Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (10-11, 4.49).
Buehrle is expected to take the mound despite being hit by a line drive in the left bicep by Kansas City's Alcides Escobar in his last start. The night was a total washout for Buehrle, who allowed a career-high 15 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has only one win in his last six starts. Buehrle is 1-2 with a 7.11 ERA in three starts against the Indians this season and 14-17 with a 4.81 ERA lifetime versus Cleveland. Travis Hafner is batting .239 (16-for-67) with two homers, 10 RBIs and 16 strikeouts lifetime against Buehrle. Jimenez is finally looking like the guy the Indians hoped they were getting when they dealt their two best pitching prospects to Colorado at the trade deadline. He is 3-1 with a 2.78 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings in his last five starts. Jimenez has won his last two starts, including a victory over the White Sox on Sept. 11 when he pitched six solid innings. All three career starts against Chicago have come this season. He is 1-0 with a 4.08 ERA.
ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (75-79): Lefthander Chris Sale, who recorded his seventh save Tuesday, has been one bright spot in Chicago's season. He has held left-handed batters to a .198 average (23-for-116) with 36 strikeouts. Sale has allowed 48 hits and struck out 75 in 68 1/3 innings. He pitched the final 1 2/3 innings Tuesday and got Carlos Santana to hit into a double play to preserve a 5-4 win.
ABOUT THE INDIANS (76-77): Finishing in second place wouldn't be much of a consolation prize for most teams, but it's something the Indians would like to accomplish. Cleveland won 69 games last season and had 65 victories in 2009. The Indians haven't finished higher than third since winning the division in 2007. Cleveland hasn't finished .500 since going 81-81 in 2008.
FINAL PITCH: The White Sox enjoy playing at Progressive Field. Chicago is 9-2 in its last 11 games in Cleveland and has outscored the Indians 73-47 in that span.