The Chicago White Sox will go for a series win against the Cleveland Indians when the teams square off Thursday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field on Chicago’s South Side.
Chicago (24-42) has endured a bumpy start to the season but has won two of the first three in its four-game series against the Indians. The White Sox have gone 8-5 in June thanks in large part to better starting pitching.
Meanwhile
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The getaway-day contest will represent the second start of the season for White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (0-1, 3.60 ERA), who spent two-plus months on the disabled list as he recovered from shoulder surgery.
The White Sox’s 2014 first-round pick (No. 3 overall) allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings during his season debut Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. He walked two and struck out seven.
Teammates were impressed with Rodon’s assortment of pitches after a long layoff.
“Carlos has that killer (look in his eye) whenever he starts getting a little geeked up, when he’s about to throw some stuff that is going to be unhittable,” White Sox catcher Kevan Smith told The Athletic. “Even whenever we were catching in Triple-A, he had the same things kind of happen. He would pitch out of these jams, and that’s what I’m saying. …
“He has a fastball that … just kind of control it and let it do its work, it’s an impressive pitch.”
In 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Indians
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For the visitors, Indians right-hander Mike Clevinger (4-2, 3.31 ERA) will take the mound for his 14th start of the season. The 27-year-old needs one more win for No. 20 in the big leagues.
Clevinger has pitched six-plus innings in nine of his past 10 outings. In nine of his 13 starts this year, he has given up three earned runs or fewer.
The White Sox have had sporadic success against Clevinger, who is 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA against that team in five career appearances (three starts). Clevinger has walked nine and fanned 20 in 21 innings versus Chicago.
Chicago is 12-20 at home this season; Cleveland is 15-20 on the road.
The Indians are still without left-hander Andrew Miller out of the bullpen as he recovers from inflammation in his right knee. Miller threw a bullpen session Wednesday and could face hitters in live batting practice or in a simulated game as part of the next step in his rehabilitation.
“He did well, he did real well, probably his best one yet,” Indians manager Terry Francona told mlb.com. “When we get back home
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“How he’s bouncing back is still the biggest challenge, but he’s building up, he’s doing a good job, so we’re making progress, which is good. I’d much rather have that happen than the other way.”
Zach Eflin has made all the difference for the Philadelphia Phillies against the National League’s top team.
Rhys Hoskins and Andrew Knapp hit home runs and Eflin beat the Milwaukee Brewers for the second time in a week, helping the Phillies strand 15 runners in a 4-1 victory on Saturday.
Philadelphia is 2-3 against NL-leading Milwaukee this season, allowing 37 runs over the three losses. Both victories have been pitched – and pitched well – by Eflin.
”Very efficient, very poised
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Eflin (4-2) gave up one run in five innings.
”I kind of got in a little funk in the first inning but was able to put that behind me and put up four solid frames after that,” Eflin said.
He was removed for a pinch-hitter in the sixth after throwing only 73 pitches.
”Obviously, if his spot doesn’t come up in the lineup there, we send him back out and try to get more length out of him because he was that good today,” Kapler said.
Milwaukee scored 13 runs against the Phillies in a win Friday night before being stymied by Eflin and four relievers. Hector Neris pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.
The Brewers scored in the first on Travis Shaw’s single.
Hoskins hit a towering home run in the fourth off the window of a restaurant on Miller Park’s third level to tie it. Junior Guerra (3-5) had retired eight in a row before Hoskins, who also doubled, singled and walked, hit his ninth homer.
”Obviously
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The Phillies took the lead in the fifth on Knapp’s leadoff homer to straightaway center.
”I am not trying to go and hit home runs,” Knapp said. ”That is not who I am, but it is nice to pop one every once in a while.”
Eflin gave up three hits, struck out six and walked one. He helped his cause by picking off Lorenzo Cain at first base with one out in the fourth.
Philadelphia extended its lead in the sixth when J.P. Crawford drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk from reliever Boone Logan – Milwaukee pitchers walked a season-high 10. Cesar Hernandez followed with an infield single.
”Too many walks, period,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ”The walks are going to bite you for sure.”
DONE DEAL
The Brewers sent 22-year-old infielder Wendell Rijo to the New York Yankees to complete the May 25th trade for catcher Erik Kratz. Rijo had been playing with Double-A Biloxi in the Brewers’ minor league system.
PATIENCE PAYS OFF
Crawford struck out twice but drew three walks. ”J.P. Crawford saw 40 pitches today
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LOGAN STRUGGLING
Brewers’ left-handed reliever Boone Logan continues to struggle to get lefties out in key situations. ”This is his job and it has to be his role to get these outs,” Counsell said.
EXCLUSIVE CLUB
Ryan Braun collected his 200th career stolen base in the fifth inning, making the Brewers’ outfielder the only active player with at least 300 home runs and 200 steals.
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Phillies: Placed RHP Luis Garcia on 10-day disabled list with a strained right wrist and optioned RHP Mark Leiter Jr. to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Recalled RHPs Yacksel Rios and Jake Thompson from Lehigh Valley.
Brewers: 2B Jonathan Villar returned after missing two consecutive games with a calf injury.
UP NEXT
Phillies: Aaron Nola (8-2) takes the mound in the three-game series finale. Nola is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers.
Brewers: Chase Anderson (5-5) is 1-2 with a 5.85 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies. He has not faced Philadelphia since earning a 4-1 victory on June 2, 2016, at Citizens Bank Park.
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