Series Preview: Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago White Sox

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Just when we think we have the 2013 Cleveland Indians figured out, they go ahead and throw a monkey wrench into everything. When we think they’re one of the best teams in baseball and a legit contender they go and lose eight straight or put together a 2-4 road trip. Once we start thinking that the ship is about to sink they rattle off a handful of victories in a row against a team that many believed would compete for the AL pennant.

Needless to say, it’s a confusing time to be a fan of the Cleveland Indians. I don’t know whether to buy in or sell short on this team. They are a roller coaster of emotion that has befuddled me with each and every passing day.

That said, there is one thing I am sure of and that is I hate the Chicago White Sox. I always have and I always will. And even though the White Sox are one of the worst teams in baseball from a wins and losses stand point, don’t be fooled. There is still a fair amount of talent on their roster. Enough talent, actually, that if the Indians aren’t careful they could end up in a situation where it is the White Sox who put the nail in the proverbial coffin that is the 2013 baseball season.

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For the White Sox, many of the faces have remained the same but the results have been anything but familiar. They can still sport a lineup that contains the classic villains we have come to despise, among them being Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Alex Rios, Alexi Ramirez, and Alejandro “I’m the best player on the planet when I play the Indians” De Aza.

As I already said though, the results have been anything but familiar for the White Sox. A lineup that has consistently been among baseball’s best at scoring runs over the years has degraded into a shell of its former self. The Sox currently rank 29th in runs scored, 27th in on base percentage, and 18th in batting average. To make matters worse, they aren’t even hitting the ball with the same type of authority as they have in years past. They currently rank 23rd in slugging percentage and have only hit 95 home runs as a team. That’s good enough for 20th place in all of baseball.

However, despite the problems the White Sox have had scoring runs, they still sport one of the more formidable rotations in all of baseball. Chris Sale has had another ridiculous season on the mound as the White Sox ace. Despite his 6-10 record, he still has a 2.69 ERA and leads the team in strikeouts with 149. He’s been good enough to produce 5.3 wins above replacement. This confirms what we already know about Sale. That being, the guy is a stud. The only question is whether or not his small frame will hold up to the abuse of throwing well over 100 pitches in most of his starts.

Rounding out the rotation for the White Sox is the former flame thrower Jake Peavy, who leads the team in wins. He is joined by John Danks, Jose Quintana, and Hector Santiago. All of which can have their moments, but none of which jumps off the page and screams dominance. In a way, that is the running story for the 2013 White Sox. Nobody really wows you at this stage in their careers, with the exception of Chris Sale.

The White Sox are a flawed team in many ways. They were built to win and win big through a series of big signings and roll the dice in the heat of the moment trades. It has left them saddled with some enormous contracts to players who have either under-performed (I’m looking at you Alex Rios) or players who are simply headed for the tail end of their careers and no longer capable of putting a team on their back and carrying them for the long haul.

Of course, now that I have said all of this I fully expect Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko to revert back to younger versions of themselves and make me eat each and every word I just wrote, especially Konerko. He has made a career out of destroying the Indians. Would I put it past him to destroy our hopes and dreams yet again? No, not at all.

I’ll be so happy when Paul Konerko retires. You have no idea.

Pitching Match-ups:

Zach McAllister (4-6, 3.57 ERA/4.59 SIERA) vs. John Danks (2-8, 4.81/3.92)

Zach McAllister had a rough go of things in his first start back from the disabled list. The Mariners roughed him up as he attempted to shake the rust off. He managed to work his way through five innings, but one bad inning was his downfall. Look for McAllister to bounce back and get better with each and every subsequent start. He has a proven track record of being consistently consistent and there is no reason to expect him not to get back to where he was prior to his injury. Despite the rust there were encouraging signs in his first start, like the movement on his curve ball.

John Danks is having a rough go of it in 2013. At one point in time, Danks was one of the most solid starters in baseball and a regular contributor to the White Sox year in and year out. However, injuries have really derailed his career and since they have started piling up he just hasn’t been the same pitcher as in years past. With all of that said, this is probably the time in which he will channel is best stuff and dominate the Indians for a solid seven innings. That’s just how these things tend to go when you’re a fan of the Cleveland Indians.

Scott Kazmir (6-4, 3.96/3.87) vs. Jake Peavy (8-4, 4.28/3.47)

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Don’t look now, but Scott Kazmir is on a roll. He’s allowed only eight earned runs over his past seven starts. During that time he has found a way to lower his ERA from well over 5, to a season low 3.96. He has been incredible and proof that with hard work comes results. Kazmir has fought hard to get back to where he is now and since the end of June has more closely resembled the old version of himself. He’s been so good, in fact, that many fans are beginning to wonder whether or not the Tribe should consider trying to resign him for 2014. It’s an interesting debate, but one that should be saved for after the season.

Meanwhile, Jake Peavy continues to add to what has already been an impressively strong resume. At 8-4 he leads the White Sox in victories and has reimagined himself as a veteran pitcher who can rely more on his experience and ability to think through situations rather than his God given ability to throw upper 90’s heat. So while this might not be the same Jake Peavy who won the Cy Young award back during his time with the Padres, he is still a top level pitcher capable of making life a living hell for opposing offenses.

Corey Kluber (7-5, 3.74/3.17) vs. Jose Quintana (5-3, 3.55/4.05)

I owe Corey Kluber an apology. Never in a million years did I think he was capable of doing the things he is doing for the Indians. Shows how much I know. All Kluber has done this year is transform himself from an emergency spot starter to a legitimate option in the starting rotation. He’s been great and outside of Justin Masterson, Kluber may very well be the Tribe’s most reliable pitcher. I don’t even know how to explain what we are seeing. I am completely shocked. Baseball is weird sometimes. Look for him too keep the positive momentum going against a team that seems to really enjoy swinging and missing at baseballs.

As for the White Sox, they will counter with Jose Quintana. Quintana is a young pitcher still looking to find his way at the big league level. He has struggled at times, but it is beginning to look as if he has finally found his stride. He has been great over his past few starts and provides Chicago with a legitimate starting option to pair with Chris Sale should they decide to have a fire sale and part ways with Jake Peavy. He’s also left-handed, so there’s that.

Justin Masterson (12-7, 3.42/3.28) vs. Chris Sale (6-10, 2.69/2.88)

Finally, Thursday we will see the rematch we have all been waiting for. Justin Masterson and Chris Sale will take the hill against one another for the first time since they squared off on June 29th. On that day, Masterson was phenomenal. He through a complete game, six hit shut out. All he has done since then is continue that string of dominance and pitched the way an ace should be pitching. Again, Masterson should have a field day with the White Sox. He is one of the top strike out pitchers in all of baseball and the White Sox just love swinging through baseballs.

As for Chris Sale, he has been a hard luck loser for much of the season. He has been his same old self, but he has been on the wrong side of things when it comes to run support. Chances are he will hold the Indians to only a few runs and it will be up to Masterson to minimize the damage on his end. For the Indians offense, it will be all about taking advantage of any opportunity Sale gives them because chances are they will be few and far between.

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