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2020 Series #18 White Sox @ Indians, Sep 21-24

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Wham with the Right Hand

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One week to go in the regular season and the Indians host the White Sox for a four-game series which will have a lot to say about the first round playoff matchups. At this point it probably doesn't matter that much since there is no dominant team that must be avoided at all costs. The top four teams are all within 2.5 games of each other and their positions could switch daily over the next week. In addition, the 5th place Yankees are only a game behind the Twins so they could move up into the top four and earn a home series, although who knows if that's even an advantage without fans. The Indians actually have a better record on the road.

The Twins need to hold onto 4th place because they're 21-5 at home and only 12-17 on the road. I would not want to play them first in Minnesota. The Yankees have won 9 of 10 and are on a roll so I woiuld want to avoid them. They've been putting up some scary offensive numbers; 59 runs in their last six games. That's a month's worth of offense for the Indians.

As it stands now we're in 6th place, two games beind the Yankees and two in front of Houston and Toronto, so with only seven to play it's likely we stay where we are. The White Sox series will be tough but we're 4-2 against them and we finish with three against the Pirates, who are 5-20 on the road. We're three games behind the 4th place Twins so it's unlikely we can get to 4th place and get a home series especially since the Twins finish against Detroit and Cincy. That 8-game losing streak killed our chances to open the playoffs at home.

I'm thinking Oakland might be our most favorable matchup since they're 5-5 in their last 10. I don't want the Twins on the road and I don't want the Yankees the way they're hitting right now. Give me Oakland or Tampa.

The pitching matchups for this series against the second place White Sox, who are 24-8 after starting 10-11. They've won 12 of 16.

1. Dane Dunning v. Aaron Civale. Dunning is a rookie right-hander who is 2-0, 2.33 in five starts. In his last two starts he's allowed one earned run in 13 innings. For the season he's allowed 16 hits in 27 innings. Looks like this kid can sling it. Civale has been tough on the White Sox, giving up only three earned runs in two starts covering 13 innings. But those starts were over five weeks ago when they were not on fire like they are now.

2. Reynaldo Lopez (1-2, 5.40) v. undecided. Bieber is due to start but the Indians need to position him to open the playoffs so he may get bumped. Lopez is 26-33 in his career with an ERA of 4.70. His longest start of the year is 5.1 innings and 83 pitches. They just try to get five decent innings out of him.

3. Lucas Giolito (4-3, 3.53 v. undecided. Giolito no-hit the Pirates last month but in his four starts since then his ERA is 4.37. He started two games against the Indians this year allowing two runs in 13 innings, but that was over five weeks ago. According to his game log he was pitching better then.

4. Dallas Keuchel (6-2, 2.04) v. undecided. The big lefty has been the Sox's best starter this year and he's coming on strong, allowing no earned runs in his last 14 innings covering three starts. His max pitch count this year is 85. He's another guy they just want to give them five good innings. He has not faced the Indians since 2018.

Overall the Sox are 6th in the majors in scoring, 4th in home runs per game, and 4th in team ERA. Tim Anderson, hitting .360, is listed as day-to-day on their injury report. Jose Abreu is making a case for MVP with a .335/1.032 line including a .349 average against RHP. However, the Indians have limited the damage in this first six games as he's hitting .250 against them.

The White Sox are 0.5 games behind the Rays for the #1 seed so I assume they'll be trying to win not only for that but to make a statement in case they have to play the Indians in the playoffs. They are 2-4 against the Tribe and they probably don't want to end up 3-7 or something like that.
 
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This series and the subsequent series against the pirates will define the road into, hopefully, late October baseball.. In an earlier thread.. it was suggested that the Tribe would have the best chance to fare well if they were to be opposed by the AL West duo (A's and Stros) with Tampa as the third team in our bracket. It isn't an accident that this scenario would avoid home series' for the Twins, CWSox & Yankees.. As of this morning, Tampa has overtaken the CWSox for the best record & # 1 seed (tied in the loss column) leaving the CWSox as the Tribe's first round appointment.. everything thing else remains intact:

Tampa v Toronto
Minnesota v New York

Chicago v Cleveland
Oakland v Houston

There is still time for some of these positions to change, however, by Wednesday, the cast will be pretty much set in stone..

Thoughts?
 
15 pitch inning for Civale - much more efficient
 
Civale poor pitch choices to Abreu costs two runs. Implosion complete. 4-4.
 
Big at bat for Abreu, who delivers a two run two out single to cut the lead in half.

And then a two run bomb ties it.
 
I don’t get it. Civale obviously coming unglued. And Alomar doesn’t see it? Does he not have eyes?
 
Hopefully that kick starts Santana for the playoffs
 
Ok, time to put in Biebs, to protect this lead. I don’t trust anyone else.

And get Alomar the hell away from the mound.
 
Naquin extends his season hitless streak against left hand pitchers.

Hitless as in a .000 batting average.
We had two good weeks of Naquin but the regression is now complete. Time to let him walk as a FA.
 

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