White Sox at Indians
The Cleveland Indians look to remain perfect on their seven-game homestand as they host the American League Central rival Chicago White Sox in the opener of a four-game set on Monday. Cleveland has won four straight overall contests after beginning the second half by losing four of five. The Indians swept a three-game home series against Texas, blanking the Rangers in each of the final two contests after slugging out an 11-8 victory in the opener.
Ubaldo Jimenez scattered two hits over eight innings while Michael Bourn and Mike Aviles drove in two runs apiece in Sunday's 6-0 triumph. It was the major league-leading 14th shutout for Cleveland, which remained three games behind the division-leading Detroit Tigers. Chicago limps into the series having lost six of its last seven contests, including all three in a weekend set with the visiting Kansas City Royals in which the White Sox scored a total of three runs.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Plus (Chicago), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH John Danks (2-8, 4.81 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (4-6, 3.57)
Danks looks to halt a three-game losing streak as he faces a team against which he struggles. The 28-year-old was tagged for six runs and 11 hits over seven innings in a loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Danks has had his troubles against the Cleveland Indians, going 4-8 with a 4.94 ERA in 16 career starts.
McAllister returned from a sprained finger on Tuesday and suffered his third straight loss after yielding four runs - three earned - and eight hits over five innings at Seattle. The 25-year-old hit the skids after going 3-0 over his previous five starts. McAllister lost to the White Sox for the first time in three career decisions on April 24, when he gave up three runs in 5 2/3 innings at Chicago.
WALK-OFFS
1. Danks has lost six of his last seven decisions.
2. Cleveland swept a four-game series in Chicago at the end of June to improve to 7-2 against the White Sox this season.
3. White Sox 1B Adam Dunn hit his 431st career homer Sunday, tying Cal Ripken Jr. for 43rd place on the all-time list.
PREDICTION: White Sox 5, Indians 3