Indians' most consistent pitcher to face White Sox
CHICAGO -- Cleveland's rotation is showing signs of coming together as the Indians enter Saturday's night game against the Chicago White Sox on a four-game winning streak and fresh off a three-hit, complete game shutout by ace Corey Kluber.
Meanwhile, Chicago's starting pitching looks a lot shakier than it did a day ago.
The Indians have allowed just seven runs in their last four games and right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland's steadiest starter so far, will get the ball Saturday. He's 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA and has pitched into the sixth inning and allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first three starts.
Carrasco has just not had a lot of run support; the Indians have scored only five times while he has been on the mound.
Cleveland might be able to do better than that on Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Resurgent White Sox right-hander James Shields was scheduled to start. But on Friday the Chicago White Sox placed Shields on the disabled list, retroactive to April 18, with a strained right lat and purchased the contract of right-hander Mike Pelfrey from Triple-A Charlotte.
Moments before the first pitch of Friday night's game against Cleveland, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn announced that Shields experienced discomfort throwing in his last start, a six-inning no decision at Minnesota on Sunday.
The 35-year-old right-hander threw Friday, then underwent an MRI. Based on the test, Hahn said "it is a relatively mild strain" and he's "optimistic (Shields) will miss only a couple of turns in the rotation."
Shields is 1-0 with a 1.62 ERA in three starts so far. Pelfrey, whom the White Sox signed to a minor league contract earlier this month, will take will take the mound in his place against Cleveland.
Pelfrey was 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA at Charlotte, but the 6-foot-7, 33-year-old has 11 years of major league experience. His combined record with the Mets, Twins and Tigers is 65-91 with a 4.57 ERA. In 2016, Pelfrey was 4-10 with Detroit and posted a 5.07 ERA.
The White Sox will use Pelfrey to plug a hole rather than call up a top prospect -- such as Carson Fulmer, Reynaldo Lopez or Lucas Giolito -- Hahn said.
"The thought on Pelfrey being the guy is we wanted to keep everyone in the rotation in their current spots as opposed to moving anybody up," Hahn said. "In terms of younger players, we did not want to disrupt their development for what potentially could be only one or two or three times through the rotation."
Meanwhile, Carrasco has shaken off a wave of injuries.
He was 11-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 25 starts in 2016 until he was hit Sept. 17 by an Ian Kinsler drive that broke his hand an ended his season. In 2017 spring training, swelling in the right elbow limited Carrasco to 14 innings. He also left camp for the birth of a child.
"We've pitched pretty well the last four or five games," Kluber said after his gem on Friday night. "I think obviously, for me, and other guys too, except Carlos, we weren't terribly happy the way we threw the first few times.
"I think hopefully this is the way we've thrown the last 4-5 days is a sign of things to come along."