Cleveland @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( May 26, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 5, Cleveland 4
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says this current nine-game homestand is crucial to whether his team can contend in the American League Central.
If that's the case, they better get going.
A 4-3 win over Texas on Thursday night salvaged the finale of a three-game series, but the White Sox need to put together a good streak of baseball quickly.
Chicago opens another three-game set, this time with last-place Cleveland, tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. The White Sox, only 12-15 at home, trail Minnesota by eight games. The Indians have lost 13 of 17.
John Danks is coming off a shaky outing against Tampa Bay. He gave up eight runs and eight hits and didn't retire a batter in the fifth inning in one of his few poor starts of the season. The left-hander hadn't allowed more than three runs in his first nine starts before getting knocked around by the Rays.
Talking about Indians starter Justin Masterson's winless streak has become a broken record. He's won only once since being acquired from Boston at last season's trade deadline. That came on Aug. 20 when he beat Los Angeles.
Masterson is 1-12 with the Indians, has lost 11 consecutive decisions and has gone 17 straight starts without a victory.
The Indians were on the verge of removing the right-hander from the rotation, but he might have bought himself some time by pitching well Sunday in Yankee Stadium. Masterson took a shutout into the seventh inning and left with a 3-2 lead before the bullpen blew up in a 7-3 loss, leaving him with a no-decision.
There's no question Masterson had a good arm, as his 54 strikeouts in 53 2-3 innings will attest. Consistency in locating the ball has been his biggest problem. He has allowed 70 hits and opponents are hitting .319 against him. Add 27 walks to the equation and Masterson is constantly dealing with baserunners.
Masterson likely will be moved to the bullpen if he is taken out of the rotation, but the Indians desperately want him to succeed as a starter so they have something to show for last season's trade that saw catcher Victor Martinez go to the Red Sox.
The same pitchers matched up in Cleveland on May 24 with the White Sox winning 7-2. The outing typified Masterson's season. He threw 44 pitches in the first inning when Chicago scored four times. He lasted four innings and gave up five runs.
Danks wasn't brilliant but was good enough to get the win, allowing two runs in five innings.
The White Sox took two of three in the series, but have lost six of nine to the Indians this season.
Chicago third baseman Mark Teahen will miss at least six weeks because of a broken finger on his right hand.