The White Sox were the talk of the baseball world during the first month of the season, going 23-10 to start the year. Things took a drastic turn after that and Chicago’s funk opened the door for the Indians to surge ahead in the AL Central. Despite losing 15 of their past 21 games, the Sox are in the thick of the hunt and can pick up some ground with a win.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Indians completed a grueling 10-game road trip by losing all three games to the Royals, falling into a tie for the AL Central lead. Cleveland moved back into the lead on Thursday and didn’t even play. The Indians enjoyed their first day off after playing 20 consecutive nights. The breather couldn’t have come at a better time as the Indians dropped four of five leading up to the break.
It’s been a while since the Tribe last played a home game, but they were happy times, Cleveland swept the Royals in a four-game set earlier this month and has yet to lose at Progressive Field during June. It’s a small sample, but the Tribe is 5-0 at home this month and 17-12 overall. They host the White Sox for the first time after winning four of six games played in Chicago. The Tribe contributed to the Sox ugly slide by taking three of four in late May. The Sox have lost 15 of 21 heading into this series.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Carlos Rodon (2-6, 4.28 ERA) struggled to retire batters in the first two innings, but recovered to have a nice overall outing against the Royals, yielding just two runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two. The left-hander had his previous start skipped due to muscle soreness in his neck, but avoided the disabled list and looked sharp, though the Sox were unable to give him much offensive support.
Rodon’s big league debut was against the Tribe on Apr. 21 of last year and it didn’t go well. He was charged with two earned, gave up three hits and three walks in 2.1 innings of relief. His outings improved, however. In four starts against Cleveland, Rodon went 3-0 with a 0.99 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. He’ll face Cleveland for the first time this year.
Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 3.40 ERA) was a tough-luck loser Monday night, holding Kansas City to two runs over six innings. He scattered 10 hits, walked one and struck out a season-high eight. It was his third start since returning from the disabled list, and his best, which is a good sign for the Indians’ pitching staff.
Carrasco hasn’t enjoyed much success against the Sox over his career and last year he was awful against one of the poorer offensive clubs in baseball. The right-hander made five starts against the Sox and was touched for 21 hits and four homers in 16.2 innings. His ERA was 8.10 and Chicago hit .304 against him. He’ll look for better results in his first start against the division rival.
LIVE BETTING
Chicago’s offense received a boost from manager Robin Ventura’s decision to insert rookie shortstop Tim Anderson into the leadoff spot and putting center fielder Adam Eaton in the No. 2 hole. Ventura made the lineup change at the start of a just-completed three-game series with Detroit. Anderson and Eaton responded by reaching base a combined 16 times and the Sox scored 23 runs in the series.
In six games since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte, Anderson is hitting .320 whit three doubles and a triple. That includes going 5 for 16 with two double and a triple while batting leadoff in the series with the Tigers. “T.A. brings an element. He’s had great at-bats,” Ventura said of his young prospect.
QUICK PICK
Ventura was manager of the year after the first month of the season when his club won 23 of its first 33 games. Now he’s being skewered by the Chicago media. You can’t blame Sox management for trying to address the slide that has them back at .500. Several roster moves have been made and the call up of Anderson has injected some life into what had been a lackluster offense. The pitching has regressed severely from the first month of the year and Rodon has taken his lumps. But the Sox have delivered their share of blows to Carrasco over the years, and it’s about time things started going their way.
MLB Odds: Chicago 5, Cleveland 2
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