Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 24, 2013 ) Cleveland 2, Chi. White Sox 3

The Cleveland Indians have been one of the streakiest teams in the American League this season and are currently riding one of their positive swings. That could spell doom for the Chicago White Sox, who host the Indians in a split doubleheader on Friday. The White Sox have dropped two of their last three and are sitting in last place in the AL Central.

Cleveland split a four-game set at the Baltimore Orioles this week and has won six of its last nine contests while getting solid pitching. The Indians will test that rotation by inserting youngsters Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco, each of whom have been up and down between the majors and minors this season, into both ends of the doubleheader. Chicago ranks in the bottom third of the majors in most offensive categories and was shut out 3-0 by the New York Mets on Wednesday.

TV: 5:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), Comcast SportsNet Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (1-2, 2.76 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Hector Santiago (3-5, 3.03)

Bauer is being summoned from Triple-A for the spot start and will be making his third major-league start of the campaign. The 22-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his three major-league turns and held the New York Yankees to two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in his last start on May 13. Bauer has walked 15 batters in 16 1/3 total innings.

Santiago has been solid since returning to the rotation on June 9 and is coming off his best performance of the season, when he held the Kansas City Royals to one run on three hits in eight innings last Friday to earn a win. The 25-year-old benefited from improved command, issuing one walk while striking out five. Santiago has had some success against the Indians in the past, going 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in seven games - two starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Indians got in late to Chicago after Thursday’s game in Baltimore ran long due to a 78-minute rain delay.

2. Chicago SS Alexei Ramirez is 14-for-35 (.400) in his last eight games.

3. Cleveland 3B Lonnie Chisenhall has hit in five straight games and recorded a season-high three hits on Thursday.

PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Indians 3