Chicago @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( May 25, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Cleveland 7
It’s difficult to put too much importance on one game this early in the season, but the Chicago White Sox are nearing a crossroads in the season as Memorial Day approaches.
Mark Buehrle will face the Indians today for the third time this season. A victory means Chicago wins its first series on the road. A loss means the White Sox drag a two-game losing streak into Tampa Bay for a big four-game weekend series against the best team in the American League.
It’s easy to see how the White Sox, with a loss on Wednesday, could be buried in the AL’s Central Division by June 1.
Buehrle was hit hard in six straight starts, piling up a 6.44 ERA while failing to win a game, before ending the skid in his last start against Florida. He credited the turnaround with facing a National League team, where the lineups are a little softer than in the powerful American League.
He’s back facing the AL today, although the Indians are struggling to hit the ball. Against everyone but Chicago, that is. The Indians continued their dominance of the White Sox with a 7-2 victory on Tuesday night.
Jason Donald hit his first major league homer in the win, Shin-Soo Choo added his seventh of the year and Travis Hafner extended his hitting streak to 12 games. He is batting .377 during the streak, raising his average from .233 to .275.
Cleveland is now 6-2 against the White Sox and 11-25 against everyone else. If that is to continue, Jake Westbrook will have to end a personal funk. He has dropped four straight to the White Sox, including a 6-0 loss to Buehrle on Opening Day.
The Indians, who are 3-10 at home during May, are trying to win their first home series since sweeping – who else? – the White Sox in April.
Chicago starter Jake Peavy called out his teammates before the series with the Indians began, saying it was time for the team to begin winning series right now if it is to get back in the race before management detonates the team.
Then Peavy was hit hard in Tuesday’s loss to the Indians, leaving it on Buehrle to try and deliver. The White Sox are 10-12 during the month of May.
With the big four-game weekend series looming against the Rays, they’ll need a victory today to have any realistic chance at finishing the month with a winning record.