White Sox vs. Indians

Summary:

Having dropped their finale against the Twins on Wednesday and are now a half game behind the Tigers atop the division, the Indians return home just 4 1/2 games up on the White Sox, a team that they will see plenty of in the second half.

…Sox leadoff batter Juan Pierre has a 12-game hitting streak.

…Reliever Brian Bruney hasn’t allowed a run in his last nine appearances.

…Designated hitter Adam Dunn is 7-for-79 (.089) with 40 strikeouts in his last 22 games. I added him onto my fantasy team… I’m smart aye?

Pitching Matchups:

RH Gavin Floyd (7-9, 4.37 ERA) vs. RH Carlos Carrasco (8-7, 4.25). Tonight 7:05pm.

 RH Edwin Jackson (6-7, 3.97) vs. LH *David Huff (5-10, 5.63). Saturday night 7:05pm.

RH Phillip Humber (8-6, 3.27) vs. RH Justin Masterson (8-6, 2.64) Sunday afternoon 1:05pm.

* The Indians, with the ability to juggle the rotation because of off days Thursday and July 28, will have Fausto Carmona face the Angels instead of the White Sox this weekend. This year, Carmona is 0-2 with a 20.25 ERA (18 earned runs in eight innings) against the White Sox.

Sox Injury News:

• LHP John Danks (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list June 26. He began throwing on July 1. He made rehab starts for Class AAA Charlotte on July 10 and July 15, and he was activated on July 20.

• RHP Jake Peavy (right arm fatigue) had his scheduled July 17 start pushed back to July 19 and pitched six innings against the Royals.

• C Ramon Castro (broken right hand) went on the 15-day disabled list July 10. He may miss the rest of the season.

• RHP Tony Pena (right elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 28. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte on June 16. After making a solid appearance June 24, Pena informed trainers that there was further soreness, prompting him to be shut down. He resumed throwing on July 16, but on a rehab assignment with Class AAA Charlotte on July 20, he suffered yet another setback in the right elbow after just four pitches.

Sox News/Notes:

• 3B Brent Morel did get the start at third base on Wednesday, going 1-for-2 in the loss to Kansas City, but he is still only 1-for-13 in his last five games, and third base now seems to be more of a platoon than simply Morel’s job. Manager Ozzie Guillen indicated that Mark Teahen would start on Friday and Saturday in Cleveland, with the Indians pitching righties Carlos Carrasco and Justin Masterson. Teahen started the first four games coming out of the All-Star Break, going 4-for-16. Guillen wants the best chance to help out the offense, and as of right now that means Morel and Teahen will split time based on pitching match-ups.

• OF Juan Pierre has ended all the talk about the White Sox needing more production from the leadoff spot, as the veteran hit .385 from June 26 through Wednesday’s game, the best in the majors over that time while riding the aforementioned 12 game hitting streak Pierre was 30-for-78 with three doubles, two triples, 10 RBI and 11 runs in that stretch. It was manager Ozzie Guillen who fought off critics that wanted Pierre replaced in mid-June, and now the White Sox are at least getting some productivity from the top of the lineup.

• C A.J. Pierzynski was hoping to have a second half with a few more off days than he had in the first half, but manager Ozzie Guillen indicated that is no longer an option. With the news on Wednesday that C Ramon Castro and his broken hand will like need the remainder of the regular season to heal, C Tyler Flowers will hold down the back-up role. Guillen has used Flowers only once since the injury to Castro right before the All-Star break, and Pierzynski has seen the rest of the playing time. The White Sox might use Flowers more if they feel like they are out of it, but as long as they remain a handful of games out of first place they will lean heavily on Pierzynski.

• Manager Ozzie Guillen wasn’t the only member of the White Sox coaching staff that was in a bad mood the last 48 hours. It was Guillen who made news with his critical comments of his team after a Wednesday loss to the Royals, and then on Thursday it was pitching coach Don Cooper’s turn. Cooper was doing a phone interview on a Chicago radio station, and was asked by the host about the White Sox calling up Dayan Viciedo to help get a spark from the offense. “I have no clue about that; I’m a coach,” Cooper fumed. “Do I feel like something (needs to be done)? Yeah, we have to score some runs. That’s what’s got to be done. And if we do, we have a chance to win. And if we don’t, we won’t. … Nice try, asking me to bring up (bleeping) Viciedo. I’m not in charge of making moves, I’m in charge of coaching.” Cooper then hung up on the host.

• DH Adam Dunn was nursing a sore knee, according to manager Ozzie Guillen, but was scheduled to start the game Friday in Cleveland. Dunn missed the last two games against Kansas City, but that was because the Royals were starting two left-handers. The Indians were scheduled to start RHP Carlos Carrasco.

“If I’m not having fun anymore, I’ll go home; “Flat out. I’ll go home. … How many games can you play doing this? This is ridiculous.”-  Adam Dunn on his recent struggles.