Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 28, 2013 ) Cleveland 9, Chi. White Sox 8

The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians burned through a total of 20 pitchers while combining for 46 runs in a doubleheader on Friday. When the White Sox host the Indians again on Saturday, both teams will need some innings from their starting pitchers. Cleveland got the better of both ends of the twinbill and has won eight of its last 11 contests.

The Indians pounded out a 19-10 victory in Friday's opener and scored four runs in the ninth inning to claim a 9-8 win in the nightcap, getting several big hits along the way from budding star Jason Kipnis. The second baseman has hit safely in 11 straight games and drove in four runs in the doubleheader. Chicago’s pitching staff had allowed an average of 3.4 runs in the previous five games before Friday.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (5-4, 4.79 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (3-4, 4.57)

Jimenez has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last three outings but has failed to get out of the sixth inning in those starts. The right-hander surrendered a pair of solo home runs among eight hits at Baltimore on Monday and limited the damage to two runs in 5 1/3 frames while picking up the win. Jimenez has yet to face Chicago this season but owns a 1-3 record with a 6.21 ERA in six career outings against the division rivals.

Axelrod has gone five straight starts without a win and has struggled terribly in his last three, allowing a total of 14 earned runs and 28 hits in 14 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old has issued 11 of his 27 total walks this season in the last four outings. Axelrod was sharp against Cleveland on April 22, allowing one run on three hits in six innings without factoring in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. White Sox DH Adam Dunn has driven in eight runs in the last five games and has hit safely in eight of nine.

2. Chicago 1B Paul Konerko (back) has missed four straight games but hopes to return before the end of the series.

3. Cleveland 1B Mark Reynolds was the only starter without two or more hits in the opener on Friday. He went 2-for-5 with a homer in the nightcap.

PREDICTION: Indians 7, White Sox 4