Indians at White Sox
The Cleveland Indians attempt to defeat Chicago for the 10th consecutive time when they visit the White Sox on Friday afternoon in the second contest of their four-game set. Cleveland trounced Chicago 14-3 in the opener to remain 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second American League wild card and is 12-2 against the White Sox this season with five meetings remaining. Chicago has lost 12 of its last 14 games to fall 30 below .500.
Cleveland’s Ryan Raburn returned from a heel injury and matched his career high with five RBIs in the opener by going 3-for-3 with a home run. The journeyman always has feasted on White Sox pitching, and 17 of his 70 career blasts have come against them. Chicago has 88 losses and appears to be a cinch to lose 90 games for the first time since 2007.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), CSN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Danny Salazar (1-2, 2.92 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Hector Santiago (4-8, 3.44)
Salazar has struck out 45 batters in 37 innings over his first seven major-league starts. He has pitched more than four innings in just two of his last five outings. Salazar is holding opposing hitters to a .209 average but has given up six homers.
Santiago was rocked for five runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings by Cleveland on June 28 but wasn’t involved in the decision of a 19-10 loss. He has only one victory over his last 13 starts despite allowing fewer than three earned runs nine times during the stretch. Santiago is 2-0 with a 4.82 ERA in eight career appearances (three starts) against the Indians.
WALK-OFFS
1. The White Sox have been outscored 24-4 over their last three games.
2. Indians 1B/OF Nick Swisher hit his 18th homer on Thursday, leaving him two shy of his ninth straight 20-homer campaign.
3. Chicago made three errors on Thursday, has committed a whopping 20 in September and leads the majors with 112.