Chicago @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 12, 2013 ) Chi. White Sox 0, Cleveland 1

The Cleveland Indians will try to hand the visiting Chicago White Sox their fifth straight loss when the teams meet Saturday afternoon. Nick Swisher hit a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth to plate the game’s only run in Friday's series opener. It was Cleveland’s first 1-0 victory over the White Sox since 1989, a welcome relief after the Indians were outscored 25-7 in the first two games of their previous series against the New York Yankees before the last two were rained out.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana, who is hitting .500 through the first seven games, sat out Friday’s victory with a sore thumb, but manager Terry Francona said he expects him to return for Saturday’s game. Michael Bourn, who doubled with one out and scored the winning run in Friday’s game, is also off to strong start, collecting 12 hits in his first 36 at-bats. Alex Rios is off to a similar start for the White Sox, hitting 16-for-39 with four home runs. He came into the series hitting .245 in his career against the Indians.

TV: 4:05 p.m., ET, CSN Chicago, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox LH Chris Sale (1-0, 1.84 ERA) vs. Zach McAllister (0-1, 3.00)

Sale signed a five-year, $32.5 million contract extension March 7 and, thus far, that’s looking like a wise decision by the White Sox. He didn’t allow a run in 7 2/3 innings of a 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Royals on Opening Day, a team that’s scored 47 runs in the nine games since. He then worked seven innings against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, allowing three runs and five hits before getting a no-decision in the 4-3 victory by the White Sox in 10 innings. Sale is 2-0 in his career against the Indians with a 2.10 ERA. He made his second-to-last start of last season against Cleveland, allowing 10 hits and three earned runs. He did not receive a decision in the 5-4 win by Chicago. Sale also blew a save last May against Cleveland in his final game as a reliever.

McAllister was the scheduled starter Thursday against the Yankees but the game was rained out for a second consecutive day so he bumped Ubaldo Jimenez from his spot in the rotation this weekend. McAllister earned that chance thanks to a strong season debut April 5 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He allowed six hits and two earned runs in six innings but the offense didn’t lend a hand and the Indians lost 4-0. He made his second-to-last start of last season against the White Sox as well, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings and failing to get the decision in a 5-4 loss.

WALK-OFFS

1. Sale has the same ERA during the day as he does at night (2.84)

2. The Indians recalled LH pitcher Nick Hagadone from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, giving them an eighth pitcher in the bullpen. Only seven will be available this weekend, as Matt Albers was placed on the paternity list to be with his wife. Hagadone is 2-0 with a 5.70 ERA in 36 career appearances out of the bullpen.

3. Indians 1B Jason Giambi was also added to the active roster Friday. The 42-year-old, who's in his 18th major-league season, had been sidelined the first eight games with a back ailment.

PREDICTION: White Sox 3, Indians 1