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White Sox-Indians Preview

May 24, 2010 - 1:35 AM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Chicago (18-24) at Cleveland (15-26), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Since they swept the Chicago White Sox last month, wins have been rare for the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

The Indians are hoping another visit from the White Sox will help them launch a much-needed run.

Cleveland will try to open its three-game series by recording a sixth straight win over its AL Central rivals for the first time in seven seasons Monday night.

The Indians (16-26) used Jhonny Peralta's sixth-inning RBI single Sunday against Cincinnati to snap a season-high, six-game slide, and the 4-3 win was their third in 13 home games since April 18.

"Now we roll," pitcher David Huff told Cleveland's official website. "It's been a tough couple weeks. But now we've got to move on and get ready for the next one."

The next game has the Indians, owners of the AL's worst home record (7-12), facing a team they've had considerable success against this season. Cleveland opened by taking two of three in Chicago then won three straight at home over the White Sox for the first time in four years April 16-18.

Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen, however, insists his club is a different team heading into this meeting.

"We can't beat anyone when we played (the Indians)," Guillen told his team's official website. "In the beginning, our team was very down. Now we're swinging the bats better, pitching better."

The White Sox (18-25) have improved on the road in splitting their last 10 following a 2-7 start and won two of three over Florida this weekend to conclude a five-game homestand with strong starting pitching contributing to those victories.

However, they were also routed 13-0 in Sunday's series finale.

"We won a series against a team that is over .500 and they were playing well," catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the team's website. "Now it's time to move on."

Chicago will try to bounce back by giving John Danks (3-3, 2.26 ERA) a little more run support. The left-hander, who has the AL's third-lowest ERA, has yielded three runs or fewer in all eight starts but has lost three consecutive outings.

In his previous matchup with Cleveland on Sept. 28, Danks recorded his only complete game, allowing three hits and one walk in a 6-1 road victory. He's 2-5 with a 4.89 ERA in 10 career starts against the Indians and 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA at Progressive.

His counterpart in Monday's game, Justin Masterson (0-4, 5.65), is all too familiar with low support, receiving the second-fewest runs per game among AL starters at 2.72.

He'll try to get some assistance from Travis Hafner, who is 15 of 41 (.366) during an 11-game hitting streak.

Hafner is 4 for 18 (.222) all-time against Danks, but will try to help the Indians win six in a row over the White Sox for the first time since April 20-July 11, 2003.

Masterson, one of three winless starters with at least four decisions this season, also hasn't helped himself with high pitch counts. He's thrown at least 106 pitches in five of his eight outings - including four straight - but has gotten past the sixth inning only once.

Masterson, who has also issued 22 walks over his last six games, hasn't earned a win since Aug. 20 against the Los Angeles Angels and has never beaten the White Sox (0-1) despite a 1.50 ERA in three starts.