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Westbrook to return when Indians face White Sox

May 28, 2008 - 11:59 AM Chi White Sox (28-23) at Cleveland (24-28) 12:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Jake Westbrook is scheduled to make his first start since April 19 when the Cleveland Indians host the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

The Indians took the second game of the series, 8-2, on Tuesday, marking just their second win in the last 11 games. The eight runs was the most Cleveland had posted in a victory since April 30.

Westbrook's return will bolster a staff that ranks fifth in the majors with a 3.55 team ERA and has limited opponents to four runs or less in 19 of 24 games this month.

The veteran sinkerballer has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his four starts this season but has seen the Cleveland offense manage a total of nine runs in the outings.

Westbrook (1-2, 2.73 ERA) allowed three runs in seven innings to take a loss on April 29 before being shut down with a left intercostal strain.

Support has been a problem for all of the Indians' starters this season, as the team ranks last in the American League with a .234 average and 13th with a .366 slugging percentage.

The White Sox were on a tear before suffering Tuesday's setback, winning 10 of their previous 12 games.

Chicago will send righthander Gavin Floyd (4-3, 2.93) to the mound in the finale of the three-game set. He allowed three runs and three hits in nine innings, walking four while striking out three, but suffered the loss during Friday's 3-1 setback to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.