Indians at White Sox
The Cleveland Indians had to wait one more day to give their offense a boost. The Indians added Johnny Damon to the roster on Tuesday but left him on the bench while they dealt with left-handed Chris Sale in the series opener. Sale had little trouble cutting through the Indians lineup, leading the Chicago White Sox to a series-opening triumph. The White Sox got their own unexpected offensive boost from Gordon Beckham, who hit his first homer of the season in the contest.
Cleveland will platoon Damon in left field with Shelley Duncan, who homered Tuesday. The White Sox have won two straight games to pull over .500 and into a virtual tie for first place in the American League Central with Cleveland and the Detroit Tigers. Chicago is the only one of the three with a positive run differential.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), CS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Josh Tomlin (1-2, 5.48 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Philip Humber (1-1, 4.66)
Tomlin has not made it past the fifth inning in three of his first four starts in 2012. The 27-year old right-hander lost to the Kansas City Royals last week and has already fallen to Chicago once this season, allowing four runs and seven hits over five innings April 9. Alejandro De Aza and A.J. Pierzynski each homered off Tomlin in that one.
Humber did not follow up his perfect game in with a strong performance last week, when he was lit up for nine runs on eight hits - three home runs - in five innings to absorb a loss against the Boston Red Sox. The right-hander had yielded a total of one earned run in his first two outings. Humber has never beaten Cleveland, owning an 0-1 record with a 6.91 ERA in five appearances - three starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. To make room for Damon, the Indians designated infielder Jose Lopez for assignment Tuesday.
2. Cleveland outfielder Shin-Soo Choo (hamstring) was held out of the lineup because of the rainy conditions Tuesday but should make his return Wednesday.
3. Chicago reliever Jesse Crain (oblique) played catch Tuesday and will throw a side session Thursday.