White Sox at Indians (2nd)
The White Sox and Indians have already had a pair of series, with
Monday’s nightcap a makeup of the April 10 game that was rained out.
Chicago won the first three meetings of the year, including both games
in Cleveland, before the Indians bounced back with a pair of road wins
last week. Cleveland comes in with a 1 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the
American League Central, while the White Sox are three games out after
losing two of three to the Tigers over the weekend.
Neither team
came into the season with particularly high expectations — the White Sox
followed up a disappointing 2011 season by losing manager Ozzie Guillen
and top starting pitcher Mark Buehrle to the Miami Marlins, while the
Indians were stung by a spring injury to CF Grady Sizemore, who began
the season on the 60-day disabled list. Both clubs have gotten some
surprising efforts on the mound — Cleveland from veteran Derek Lowe and
Chicago from former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast Sports (Chicago), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Eric Stults (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Stults, pitching for the first time this year and making his American League debut, had mixed results as a spot starter with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and 2009, going 6-6 with a 4.26 ERA his last two years there. He made six relief appearances for Colorado last season, giving up eight runs in 12 innings.
McAllister made four starts for the Indians last season, going 0-1 and allowing 16 runs (12 earned) over 17 2/3 innings. He showed some power, striking out 14, but allowed opponents to bat a robust .338. He pitched a career-high 5 1/3 innings against Chicago last Sept. 20, allowing two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out two.
WALK-OFFS:
1. The Indians are a combined 20-for-76 (.263) against Game 1 starter Philip Humber, but C Carlos Santana is 3-for-6 (.500) with a home run. SS Asdrubal Cabrera and 2B Jason Kipnis are each 3-for-8 (.375).
2. In its last 16 doubleheaders, Cleveland is 13-3 in the opening game. Chicago has won the back half in its last four twinbills.
3. The White Sox have lost six of Humber's last seven starts, with last month’s perfect game the lone exception.