Game Preview: White Sox send Chris Sale to the mound

May 24, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder

(1) hits a single during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at U.S Cellular Field. New York won 4-3 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

The Tuesday night game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians has the makings of a very good pitcher’s duel with Chris Sale opposing Justin Masterson at 7:10 p.m. CT at US Cellular Field.

Both teams are near even in the standings with the White Sox entering the game at 26-27 overall and the Indians being 24-28 on the year, as the White Sox  won the first of three games on Monday by a 6-2 score behind the pitching of Jose Quintana and the hitting of Conor Gillaspie, who went 4-for-4.

This will be the second start for Sale since returning from the disable list with the left flexor strain. In that first start back on the mound, Sale pitched six innings against the New York Yankees, allowing just one hit with no walks and no runs. He struck out 10 in the return.

Sale, in his career vs. the Indians is 3-4 with a 4.76 ERA with 68 strikeouts.

On April 11 against the Indians, Sale pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five in the win.

For the season, Sale is 4-0 with a 1.89 ERA (33.1 innings) and 39 strikeouts. If he can stay healthy he can make the White Sox a much better them every five days.

Masterson this season is 2-3 with a 5.32 ERA, but is still capable of pitching up to his old standards, but hasn’t in his past three starts.

In Masterson’s past three starts (at Toronto, vs. Oakland, at Baltimore) he’s not pitched out of the fifth inning, allowing 17 earned runs and 21 hits. In his last start on May 22 (at Baltimore) Masterson went 5.2 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits and three walks. That statline has him with a 9.98 ERA in those three starts.

He struck out just two against the Orioles, and in the past three start he’s struck out a combined seven.

On the season, Masterson has 51 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched in 11 starts.

Against the White Sox Masterson has had success in the past, In 141.2 innings pitched he is 9-5 with a 2.35 ERA with 111 strikeouts.

Paul Konerko in his career vs. Masterson has one home run and eight RBIs, with a batting average of .216. Alejandro De Aza has a career .296 batting average against Masterson, with one home run and three RBIs.

Alexei Ramirez has struggled against Masterson, batting .149 with one home home run and two RBIs.

Here are the starting lineups for Tuesday, May 27:

Chicago White Sox (26-27)
1. Adam Eaton (CF)
2. Gordon Beckham (2B)
3. Conor Gillaspie (3B)
4. Adam Dunn (1B)
5. Alexei Ramirez (SS)
6. Dayan Viciedo (RF)
7. Paul Konerko (DH)
8. Alejandro De Aza (LF)
9. Tyler Flowers (C)

Cleveland Indians (24-28)
1. Michael Bourn (CF)
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (SS)
3. Michael Brantley (LF)
4. Ryan Raburn (DH)
5. Yan Gomes (C)
6. Jesus Aguilar (1B)
7. Daniel Murphy (RF)
8. Mike Aviles (3B)
9. Justin Sellers (2B)