Chicago @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) Chi. White Sox 3, Cleveland 4
The Cleveland Indians' offense was nowhere to be found for the majority of their first two contests of the three-game set with the Chicago White Sox. Travis Hafner provided the initial jolt in the ninth inning Tuesday with his 200th career homer as a member of the Indians and Jason Donald capped the uprising with an RBI single in the 12th for a 4-3 victory. The American League Central rivals will reconvene at Progressive Field to play the rubber match of the series in the season finale on Wednesday.
The Indians improved to 3-2 under interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr., who will formally interview for the position later this week. Former Red Sox skipper and current ESPN analyst Terry Francona has also been publicly listed as a candidate. As for Chicago, a promising season has gone awry after dropping 11 of its last 14 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (11-11, 4.47 ERA) vs. Indians LH David Huff (3-0, 2.86)
Floyd struggled with his control in his last start, issuing five walks in as many innings before picking up a 3-1 victory over Tampa Bay on Friday. The 29-year-old improved to 7-4 versus Cleveland despite a difficult outing on May 27. Floyd allowed 10 hits and five runs in as many innings, but Chicago posted a 12-6 victory.
Huff recorded a quality start in his last outing, yielding three runs and striking out five in six innings. The effort proved good enough to secure the 28-year-old his third win of the season with an 8-5 triumph over Kansas City on Friday. Huff has won two of his three career decisions versus Chicago, but has registered a 6.95 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP in the process.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago's Dayan Viciedo is having quite the series. After belting a grand slam in the 11-0 series-opening victory, Viciedo added a two-run shot in the ninth inning on Tuesday. Viciedo, who has secured eight RBIs in his last three games, went 1-for-3 against Huff.
2. After going 4-for-9 with a homer and three runs scored versus Kansas City, Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera is hitless in seven at-bats this series. He is 6-for-21 in his career versus Floyd.
3. White Sox slugger Paul Konerko will have surgery on his left wrist on Thursday.