Series Preview: Indians vs. White Sox

The Indians went into their series with the Royals with some questions as to whether or not they would be rusty following a two day layoff due to rain. After the fourth inning was over they had quickly silenced all of their doubters. When all was said and done, they had belted out 26 runs through two games en route to sweeping the Royals and increasing their lead on second place Detroit to five games. The losses the Tribe dealt to the Royals were their third and fourth straight and dropped them to just 3-7 in their last ten games. The worst loss however wasn’t suffered by the team but rather Vin Mezzaro who allowed 14, yes 14 runs in just 2.1 innings on 11 hits. His outing caused his ERA to inflate to 22.74 which was enough to cause him t be sent down for some work in Triple A ball. For the Indians they will look to continue their recent wave of offensive success and carry it into the windy city with a two-game showdown against the White Sox, who they haven’t played since the Sox took two out of three on opening weekend.

May 18-19, 2011

U.S. Cellular Field

Scouting Report

• Cleveland – After having two out of three games postponed against the Mariners the Indians traveled to Kansas City well rested and it certainly showed. They belted out a season high 19 runs in the opener of a two game set in route to a 19-1 victory and followed that up with a 7-3 win on Tuesday to improve the Tribe’s record against the Royals to 7-2 this season. The Indians have scored 31 runs over their recent three game winning streak after going 4-5 in their last nine games. The Indians will look to take down a Chicago team that has won seven out of their last ten but has had their share of struggles on the road.

• Chicago – The White Sox are riding a recent wave of success of their own and have won seven out of their last ten but are ten games back in the American League Central. The last two times these teams met up was opening weekend when the Sox took two out of three, including a 15-10 win on opening day. In the two wins the White Sox claimed in the series they outscored the Indians 23-13. Recently, a 4-3 win over Texas on Tuesday, however, was only the team’s second in 12 home contests. Brent Morel helped his team erase a three-run deficit with his first homer of the season, and Gordon Beckham scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning.

Pitching Match-up(s)

Game 1 – Justin Masterson vs. Jake Peavy

• Justin Masterson  5-1, 2.73 ERA

Masterson absorbed his first loss of the season on Thursday, when he gave up a season-high five runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings at home against the Rays. It marked the first time this year he did not last at least six innings.

• Jake Peavy 0-0, 6.00 ERA

Peavy made a triumphant return to the mound after missing 10 months due to a lat muscle torn off the bone last July. Peavy yielded four runs on seven hits over six frames Wednesday vs. the Angels, fanning four.

Game 2 – Fausto Carmona vs. Gavin Floyd

• Fausto Carmomna  3-3, 3.94ERA

Carmona walked away with a no-decision in his last outing, after allowing four runs on six hits over 7 2/3 innings at home against the Mariners on Friday. The righty induced 14 outs via grounders, struck out two and walked two.

• Gavin Floyd  4-3, 4.22 ERA

The White Sox decided to flip-flop Gavin Floyd and Phil Humber, meaning Floyd will pitch the series finale against the Indians on regular rest. Floyd suffered the loss in his start Saturday against Oakland, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Probable Lineups

Cleveland

1. CF Michael Brantley

2. SS Asdrubal Cabrera

3. RF Shin-Soo Choo

4. 1B Carlos Santana

5. DH Travis Hafner

6. 2B Orlando Cabrera

7. LF Travis Buck

8. 3B Jack Hannahan

9.    C Lou Marson

Chicago

1. LF Juan Pierre

2. SS Omar Vizquel

3. DH Adam Dunn

4. 1B Paul Konerko

5. RF Carlos Quentin

6.     C A.J. Pierzynski

7. 3B Dallas McPherson

8. CF Brent Lillibridge

9. 2B Gordon Beckham