Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2018 ) Cleveland 0, Chi. White Sox 1

The Cleveland Indians look to avoid losing a road series for the first time in almost six weeks when they visit the Chicago White Sox for the middle contest of a three-game set Saturday night. The Indians, who last lost a road series June 29-July 1 at Oakland, were blanked 1-0 on Friday night in the opener against the White Sox but maintained their 11-game lead in the American League Central.

Cleveland’s All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor boasts an eight-game hitting streak (13-for-33) coming into Saturday and owns six hits in nine career at-bats against Chicago’s scheduled starter James Shields. The Indians might be without slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who has launched three career homers against Shields, after he left Friday’s contest with left arm discomfort. Rookie outfielder Daniel Palka belted a solo homer to win it in the ninth inning for the White Sox in the series opener and owns three blasts in his last eight games to push his total to 18 on the season. The victory ended a three-game losing streak for Chicago, which has dropped eight of 11 to Cleveland in 2018 but is 3-2 at home in the season series.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland), NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Trevor Bauer (11-6, 2.25 ERA) vs. White Sox RH James Shields (4-13, 4.50)

Bauer has won each of his last three starts, allowing two runs on nine hits and nine walks across 19 1/3 innings with 24 strikeouts combined. The 27-year-old UCLA product has limited opponents to two or fewer runs in nine of his last 10 starts and reached 200 strikeouts (206) for the first time in his career. Avisail Garcia is 8-for-24 with a homer versus Bauer, who is 7-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 16 career appearances (14 starts) against the White Sox.

Shields is winless in his last four starts after giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks over six innings in a no-decision Sunday at Tampa Bay. The 36-year-old Californian, who has served up six homers and walked 10 in his last three turns across 17 innings, owns a 3.64 ERA at home as opposed to 5.75 on the road. Shields beat Cleveland with seven innings of one-run ball on June 12, improving to 5-7 in 21 career starts against the Indians.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland CF Leonys Martin was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with an undisclosed medical condition.

2. Chicago 1B Jose Abreu is batting .342 since the All-Star break but is just 7-for-43 against the Indians this season.

3. The Indians lead the majors with 93 stolen bases after recording three Friday, while the White Sox are tied for fifth (79).

PREDICTION: Indians 7, White Sox 2