Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians: 5 Bold Predictions
Apr 6, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox players Alexei Ramirez (10) and Avisail Garcia (26) score against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Chicago won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
The next series on the schedule for the Chicago White Sox is a four-game series with the Cleveland Indians, set to begin Thursday at US Cellular Field.
This is just the second home series for the White Sox this season, the first since the first three games of the year against the Minnesota Twins, where the White Sox went 2-1.
Currently, the White Sox are below .500 at 4-5 on the year and just suffered their first major loss of the season with the season-ending left torn labrum to Avisail Garcia, who was placed on the DL, Thursday.
Since the White Sox went 2-17 against the Indians last season, there needs to be more than a lot of improvement when they face the Indians this season, starting with this four-game series.
Here are my “5 Bold Predictions” for this upcoming series.
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Apr 9, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
1. At best, the White Sox will win two games this series
Saying a team can split a series doesn’t sound that bold, but if you look at how awful the White Sox played against the Indians last season, you would understand that this might be the boldest prediction on the list.
With just two wins against the Indians in 19 games last year and being outscored by 61 runs by the Tribe last season, two wins in a series would be a HUGE improvement from last year.
Mar 31, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale throws a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of an opening day baseball game at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
2. The Indians won’t own Chris Sale this time around
In 57.1 innings against the Cleveland Indians, he is 2-4 with a 4.71 ERA with 63 strikeouts, so he does have a losing record against the Indians.
Last year against the Indians, Sale was 0-4.
I saw no more of that trend for Sale against the Indians. This season, Sale might be at his best. He’s 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA. In those two starts, he has allowed three earned runs, two walks and nine hits but has struck out 14 batters.
This year will be much different for Sale against the Indians.
Apr 9, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Tommy Medica (54) tags out Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) on a ground out in the eighth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
3. The Player of the Series will be …
I’m picking Jason Kipnis of the Indians.
This guy is due for a few breakout games. In nine games this season, he has multiple hits in just two of those as he holds a .194 batting average with six RBIs.
The White Sox’s shaky pitching, mixed with Kipnis due to get on a streak of hitting (he’s too good of a player to be batting under .200) could be a perfect storm for the Indians’ second baseman.
Apr 5, 2014; The Royals, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Scott Downs (37) throws the ball against the The Royals Royals during the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
4. No relief in sight for the White Sox bullpen
Maybe I’m too down on the bullpen on the White Sox … no, I take that back, the bullpen has been really bad this season.
I don’t see the bullpen improving much in this series.
Here are some reliever ERAs thus far this season:
• Ronald Belisario (15.75)
• Scott Downs (16.20)
• Matt Lindstrom (9.00)
• Daniel Webb (4.15)
Those were the bad ones, but there have been three good performers this season in Maikel Cleto (0.00, 3.1 innings), Donnie Veal (0.00, 2.1 IP) and Jake Petricka (1.80, 5.0 IP).
Now if the top four with 4.00 ERAs or higher can get to the level of the under 2.00 ERA pitchers or meet them in the middle, the bullpen could be one of the better ones in the AL.
Apr 8, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers (21) hits a home run during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
5. Tyler Flowers will continue to “bloom”
Not counting Thursday’s game as he has an off day, I’m saying the production of Flowers continues to progress in this series.
This season, through eight games, he is batting .444 with 12 hits (one double, one home run), two walks and five RBIs. His slugging percentage is .593, and he’s scored four runs in 27 at-bats.