Series preview: Cleveland Indians at Chicago White Sox

After the fourth off day in two weeks, the Tribe begin this road trip in the Windy City with a three game visit to the Chicago White Sox.

• Tuesday's game is at 8:10 PM (House vs. Quintana)
• Wednesday's game is at 8:10 PM (Kluber vs. Noesi)
• Thursday's game is at 8:10 PM (Carrasco vs. Danks)

The Indians then head to Kansas City to conclude this road trip. Once back home, they face Detroit for four, Chicago for three and Minnesota for three in the longest home stand of the year.

Playoff Watch: Twins at Royals, Yankees at Tigers, Rangers at Mariners, Red Sox at Blue Jays, Rays at Orioles.

Team in a Box

The Tribe haven't seen the White Sox since right before the All Star break. Although the White Sox had an ok July, 14-12, they have really struggled in August, compiling a 6-15 record so far and losing their last six straight in Baltimore and New York.

Offensively, the White Sox had a team OPS of 764 in April, one of the top marks in the league. But they slumped to a 673 OPS in May and August has been more like that, 681. The team in ERA in April was 4.81, and after a solid June and July, has been even worse in August, 5.81. Their WHIP in August is an unsightly 1.530.

The Indians have just a 5-8 record against the White Sox this year, but both teams have scored an identical 58 runs. The White Sox took three of four in early April in Chicago, lost two of three in Cleveland in early May, swept the Tribe in Chicago in late May and then lost two of three right before the All Star break in Cleveland.

Projected Roster

Outside of injuries, the only real major change was the dealing of Gordon Beckham to the Angels for PTBNL or cash considerations.

Abreu continues to hit, hit, and hit some more. He is a virtual lock for Rookie of the Year. Gillespie has had a very good season and Avisail Garcia is finally healthy. Beckham's replacement, Leury Garcia isn't much of a hitter. My assumption is that he is keeping that place warm until Sanchez is fully ready (ala Lindor). Jordan Danks was sent down on Monday in the expectation that Adam Eaton is being  activated after his rehab assignment.

Gillespie has torched the Cleveland staff to a tune of 1173 in 10 games this year with six doubles. Abreu has five, yes five, bombs already against our staff, resulting in a 943 OPS. Ramirez is doing his usual stellar work against the Tribe, 333/363/489 and two home runs.

Projected Staff

#Stats include time with Mariners and Rangers

Although we do miss Sale, we still get two lefties this series in Quintana and Danks. Quintana struggled his last two starts, but still has a 3.68 ERA, 1.398 WHIP and 6.4 K/9. He has pitched well in both starts versus the Tribe, 12 innings, 10 hits, one walk, four strikeouts and one win. Noesi has had two good starts out of his last five, resulting in a 4.45 ERA, 1.330 WHIP and 7.0 K/9. In his two starts against the Indians, he has given up seven runs in 12 innings, twelve hits, four walks and nine strikeouts. Danks has been awful the past five starts, 7.67 ERA, 1,778 WHIP and 4.0 K/9. Danks has one great start (July 13), one average start (April 10), and one horrid start (May 2) against the Tribe this year.

Webb has been lights out in his four Tribe games, three hits, one walk and four K's in 5.2 innings. Cleto has only given up one hit, but walked four in his 4.2 innings. The relievers the Indians have hit are Belisario and Guerra. There currently is not one lefty in the pen, which bodes well for our Tribe.

On the Shelf

• OF Moises Sierra [15 day DL], possible early September return
• SP Felipe Paulino [15 day DL], no timetable for return
• RP Nate Jones [15 day DL], out for season

Almanac

*Does not include 2014 stats

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