Indians at White Sox
The Cleveland Indians received a superb pitching performance in the opener of their four-game series and hope for another when they continue the set against the host Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Carlos Carrasco recorded 11 strikeouts while allowing only two hits over seven innings as Cleveland posted a 4-0 victory on Monday to improve to 4-0 against Chicago this season.
Lonnie Chisenhall has been swinging a hot bat over the first four contests of the Indians' seven-game road trip, going 8-for-17 as he enters Tuesday with back-to-back three-hit performances. Michael Brantley belted a solo homer in the series opener for Cleveland, which has outscored Chicago 29-10 over their first four meetings of the year. Kevan Smith recorded one of the two hits on Tuesday for the White Sox, who have scored fewer than three runs in four of their last five games. Smith has hit safely in all five of his contests since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, going 8-for-19 with a double and two RBIs.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Adam Plutko (3-0, 3.93 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (1-7, 4.92)
Plutko will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus to make his fourth start of the season and first since May 28, when he picked up the win at home against the White Sox despite yielding five runs and six hits in five innings. The 26-year-old Californian gave up a total of three runs over 13 1/3 frames in his first two turns, registering 10 strikeouts while issuing four walks en route to a pair of victories. Plutko made his major-league debut versus Chicago on Sept. 24, 2016, allowing two hits with a walk and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Shields lost his third consecutive start on Thursday as he was tagged for seven runs and eight hits - three homers - in six innings at Minnesota. The 36-year-old native of the Golden State has served up three blasts in each of his last two turns after surrendering a total of two over 40 frames in six outings last month. Shields, who hasn't won since his season debut at Kansas City on March 29, is 4-7 with a 4.01 ERA in 20 career starts against Cleveland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians 2B Jason Kipnis (neck) and DH-1B Edwin Encarnacion (ankle) hope to be back in the lineup Tuesday after taking batting practice before the series opener.
2. Chicago OF Avisail Garcia (hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Charlotte on Tuesday.
3. Cleveland recalled C Francisco Mejia from Columbus and optioned RHP Evan Marshall to the Clippers.