Cleveland @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2018 ) Cleveland 4, Chi. White Sox 5

The Chicago White Sox look to earn a series victory and avoid their first 100-loss season since 1970 when they host the American League Central champion Cleveland Indians for the finale of a three-game set Wednesday night. Daniel Palka singled home the final two runs as Chicago scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday to earn a 5-4 victory.

Palka, who has 27 homers to tie Zeke Bonura (1934) for the third most blasts for a rookie in franchise history, went 2-for-5 on Tuesday to break out of a 1-for-14 slump across his previous five contests. The White Sox close the book on their season series with the Indians, who have won 13 of 18 as they continue to prepare for the playoffs while staggering the rest of key players. Cleveland, who has won five of its last eight contests overall and is 39-37 on the road, saw All-Star Michael Brantley (10-for-23, five-game hitting streak) leave Tuesday’s matchup with a right calf contusion and the .309 hitter is considered day-to-day. Indians first baseman Yonder Alonso is heating up in the final week of the regular season, going 6-for-11 with two RBIs and two walks in his last three games.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), NBCS Chicago Plus

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Shane Bieber (10-5, 4.80 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jace Fry (2-2, 4.32)

Bieber struggled in his last two appearances while permitting 11 runs on 17 hits and two walks over 10 2/3 innings with a pair of losses. The 23-year-old California native had won four of his previous five starts before the two rough outings and tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the White Sox in a no-decision on Aug. 10. Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada each have doubles versus Bieber, who is 6-0 with a 3.92 ERA in 10 road starts this season.

Fry gets his first career major league start after making 68 appearances in relief over the last two seasons, as the White Sox go with a bullpen game. The 25-year-old Oregon State product retired two batters while allowing a hit and a walk in Monday’s series opener and gave up two runs without posting an out in his previous outing. Greg Allen has a homer versus Fry, who is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in seven appearances against Cleveland in 2018.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland C Yan Gomes is 13-for-36 with three homers, four doubles and six RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.

2. Chicago OF Nicky Delmonico left Tuesday’s contest with right shoulder soreness and is day-to-day.

3. Indians 3B Josh Donaldson, acquired at the waiver deadline from Toronto on Aug. 31, is 6-for-20 in his last six contests.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, White Sox 2