White Sox at Indians (1st)
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: 1:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago/national)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Philip Humber (1-1, 4.62 ERA) vs. Indians RH Josh Tomlin (1-2, 5.27 ERA)
Humber has come back to earth since throwing his perfect game at Seattle on April 21, allowing 12 runs and four homers in his last 11 innings. He is 0-1 with a 6.20 ERA in six career games (four starts) against Cleveland, including a no-decision in his last trip to the mound on May 2 (6 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 6 K).
Tomlin has struggled to find a rhythm, particularly at home, where he is 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA in two starts. One of those losses came against the White Sox on April 9, when he gave up four runs in five innings. Tomlin also got a no-decision against Humber in Chicago on May 2, allowing three runs on five hits in six innings.
WALK-OFFS:
1. The Indians are a combined 20-for-76 (.263) against 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.