This series sets up very well for the Tribe. Civale allowed 2 runs in 6 innings in his first start against the Sox. Dylan Cease has a 6.48 ERA and gave up 4 runs in 2.1 innings against the Tribe 10 days ago.
Tomorrow Plesac goes against what looks like a bullpen day. Sunday it's Biebs against Giolito, who has a 5.73 ERA but shut out the Tribe for six innings in the first series between these teams. That could be a great pitching duel.
You have to give the pitching edge to the Tribe in all three games.
In addition, Tim Anderson is out with a groin strain. He's hitting .333/.922 and had six hits in the first series, including three doubles and a home run. He scored four of the Sox's 10 runs in that series. If this turns out to be a series of close, low-scoring games the loss of Anderson could be huge for the Indians.
Hopefully the Indians can get Cease out of the game after four innings or so tonight which would make their bullpen throw four innings tonight and eight tomorrow. In that case they would be somewhat depleted going into Sunday's game. Their bullpen went 4.2 innings last night.