Indians at White Sox
The Cleveland Indians are sitting atop the American League Central despite an offense that has not topped five runs and has not homered in any of the last 11 games. They are expecting to get some help in that regard Tuesday when Johnny Damon is scheduled to make his team debut and Shin-Soo Choo (hamstring) should play for the first time a week. The Indians will need all the help they can get against Chris Sale, who has been strong for the Chicago White Sox and is scheduled to start Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.
The White Sox managed to avoid a four-game sweep Sunday when Gavin Floyd took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox. The win lifted Chicago back to .500. Speaking of struggling offenses, the White Sox have been held to four runs or fewer in seven straight games. Cleveland has gotten strong starts from everyone in the rotation except for Ubaldo Jimenez, who will attempt to turn his season around Tuesday.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), WCIU (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Chris Sale (2-1, 3.12)
Jimenez was knocked around for four runs on six hits in six innings against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, absorbing his first loss of the season. The right-hander has more walks (14) than strikeouts (13) and has not made it past the sixth inning since his first outing. Jimenez is 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA in four career starts against Chicago.
Sale has made an easy transition to the rotation, allowing three runs or less in each of his first four starts. He is coming off his best outing, an eight-inning effort in which he allowed two runs in a no-decision at Oakland last week. Sale held the Indians to one run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings to pick up a win April 9.
WALK-OFFS
1. Damon is expected to platoon with Shelley Duncan in left field. Duncan is hitting .167 against right-handed pitching.
2. The White Sox swept a rain-shortened two-game series at Cleveland from April 9-11.
3. Chicago manager Robin Ventura used left-hander Matt Thornton in a save situation on Sunday even though closer Hector Santiago was rested.