Chicago @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2011 ) Cleveland 7, Chi. White Sox 3
THE STORY: The teams battling for second place in the American League Central will have a long day Tuesday as the Chicago White Sox and host Cleveland Indians meet in a day-night doubleheader. The Indians lead the White Sox by 1 1/2 games. Chicago has won nine of the 14 games in the season series.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Gavin Floyd (12-11, 4.42 ERA) vs. Indians RH Fausto Carmona (6-15, 5.26).
Floyd hasn't won since Aug. 29 when he defeated Seattle. He is 0-1 in his last three starts, yielding nine runs in 16 innings. Floyd is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts this season against the Indians. He is 6-3 with a 4.33 ERA lifetime versus Cleveland. Jim Thome is 4-for-8 with five walks in his career against Floyd. A root canal might be more pleasant than watching Carmona pitch lately. He is 0-3 with an 8.68 ERA in his last four starts and hasn't won since Aug. 17. Carmona is 8-5 with a 5.54 ERA against the White Sox in his career. Paul Konerko is batting .400 (8-for-20) with two homers, nine RBIs and seven walks against Carmona.
ABOUT THE WHITE SOX (74-78): Chicago broke a seven-game losing streak Sunday in Kansas City. The entire team has faltered as the season comes to a close, with the pitching staff taking the lead. The White Sox have allowed 61 runs in their last eight games. Chicago has lost nine of its last 12 games, which isn't what anyone expected from a team that was picked to contend in the division.
ABOUT THE INDIANS (75-76): After winning three straight, the Indians had a bad day Monday. An early 3-0 lead against Seattle turned into a 12-6 loss as Cleveland pitchers allowed their fifth grand slam in the last 12 games. It certainly wasn't the way manager Manny Acta wanted his pitching staff to begin a homestand in which the Indians will play nine games in seven days.
FINAL PITCH: After taking an 0-for-20 slump into Saturday, Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera is 7-for-9 in the last two games.