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Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians series preview

After a lost weekend with the Tigers, the Tribe tries to get back on track and concludes this quick five game home stand with a visit from the Chicago White Sox.

This series opens with Jose Quintana
This series opens with Jose Quintana
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The season opening home stand concludes with a visit from division rival White Sox.

  • Tuesday's game is at 7:10 PM (Quintana vs. Carrasco)
  • Wednesday's game is at 12:10 PM (Danks vs. Bauer)

This is one of those odd series where the Indians have both the day before and the day after the series off. The Indians really need to sweep this short two gamer as they start on a three city tour of the Central after this. They will visit Minnesota, Chicago and Detroit for three games each with just one day off.

Division Watch: Royals at Twins, Tigers at Pirates.

Team in a Box

Chicago White Sox

Offense

AL Rank

Pitching

AL Rank

2014 Record

73-89

Runs/Game

4.1

8th

Runs/Game

4.7

14th

AL Central

4th

OBP

310

12th

H/9

9.2

12th

Last 10

-

SLG

398

5th

BB/9

3.5

15th

Last 30

-

Steals

85

9th

SO/9

7.2

12th

The Tribe won the season series last year, taking ten of the nineteen contests. But they excelled in Progressive, winning seven of nine.

We all know about the Tribe's struggles over the weekend, but the White Sox have an identical record, getting swept in Kansas City and then taking two of three from the Twins at home. They have been outscored 33-18 with Jeff Samrdzija getting clobbered in his first two starts.

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A two game sweep will get the Indians even heading into that long road trip.

Projected Roster

Pos

Player

Bats

PA

BA

OPS

wRC+

C

Tyler Flowers

R

442

241

693

93

1B

Jose Abreu

R

622

317

964

165

2B

Micah Johnson*

L

472

294

754

-

3B

Conor Gillaspie

L

506

282

752

108

SS

Alexei Ramirez

R

657

273

713

97

LF

Melky Cabrera

S

621

301

808

125

CF

Adam Eaton

L

538

300

763

115

RF

Avisail Garcia

R

190

244

718

98

DH

Adam LaRoche

L

586

259

817

127

C

Geovany Soto

R

87

250

665

88

IF

Gordon Beckham

R

483

226

618

70

IF

Emilio Bonifacio

S

426

259

650

81

OF

J.B. Shuck

L

114

145

377

2

*stats in AAA/AA

This lineup can be very potent. Abreu is the newest slugger in the division that I am sure Tribe fans will begin to loathe. Both he and Gillespie did the most damage against the Indians in 2014. Beckham did well in his truncated opportunities; as did career pain in the side Ramirez (701 OPS, 14HR). Ramirez hit four homers last year while Abreu crushed five.

The White Sox better hope for a healthy offense as the bench looks particularly weak, with Beckham the only returning face from last season.

Projected Staff

Player

Throws

ERA

FIP

IP

WHIP

K/9

Chris Sale

L

2.17

2.57

174.0

0.966

10.8

Jeff Samardzija

R

2.99

3.20

219.2

1.065

8.3

Jose Quintana

L

3.32

2.81

200.1

1.243

8.0

John Danks

L

4.74

4.76

193.2

1.441

6.0

Hector Noesi#

R

4.75

4.83

172.1

1.369

6.4

Dave Robertson

R

3.08

2.68

64.1

1.057

13.4

Zach Duke

L

2.45

2.14

58.2

1.125

11.4

Zach Putnam

R

1.98

3.08

54.2

1.079

7.6

Javy Guerra

R

2.91

3.95

46.1

1.317

7.4

Dan Jennings

L

1.34

3.48

40.1

1.527

8.5

Eric Surkamp

L

4.81

4.82

24.1

1.438

7.4

Matt Albers

R

0.90

2.73

10.0

1.300

7.2

Kyle Drabek

R

0.00

1.80

3.0

1.333

15.0

The Tribe didn't luck out in this short series, facing two of the three lefties. Well, maybe they did luck out as they do miss Sale. Quintana was hit pretty hard by the Royals in his first start. He made four starts versus Cleveland last year, nabbing one win with a 3.91 ERA, 14.35 WHIP and 8.2 K/9. Danks also made four starts last year, but didn't fare as well. He was 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA, 1.583 WHIP and 6.0 K/9.

The bullpen has been remade almost completely with Putnam, Guerra and Surkamp the only returnees from last season. Robertson was fantastic with the Yankees last year, while Duke and Jennings are both coming off decent years. Albers and Drabek both battled injuries last year.

On the Shelf

  • RP Jake Petricka [15 day DL], possible mid-April return
  • RP Nate Jones [60 day DL], possible midseason return

Almanac

W

L

Pct

RS

RA

Pythag

2015

-

-

-

-

-

-

2014

10

9

526

78

71

543

Last 5*

50

42

543

435

419

517

Last 10*

92

92

500

898

837

532

All-Time

1027

1057

493

8887

8943

497

*Does not include 2015 stats

Prediction: As much as I want to call a sweep, the fact that both starters are left handed keeps me from doing so. I predict a win against Danks, but the Tribe struggles with Quintana.