White Sox @ Indians

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago White Sox (1-2)

@ Cleveland Indians (2-1)

Starting Pitchers:

Cease (CHW): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Civale (CLE) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Current odds:

Chicago White Sox: (+110)

Cleveland Indians: (-120)

• Jose Ramirez started last year with a prolonged batting slump and it does not appear the Cleveland Indians slugger is destined to match that in this shortened 60-game, 2020 campaign. Ramirez is 5-for-12 with a pair of homers and five RBIs to open the season as the Indians prepare to host the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday for a doubleheader after Monday’s contest was postponed due to rain.  Ramirez went deep from each side of the plate Sunday as Cleveland rolled to a 9-2 victory over Kansas City to take two of three games in the season-opening series, the club recording 13 hits after managing nine combined in the first two contests.

• Chicago allowed 27 runs in losing two of three games at home against Minnesota to open the year after giving up nine in the first two innings of Sunday’s 14-2 defeat.  White Sox starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez was pulled in the first inning Sunday due to right shoulder tightness while emerging star outfielder Eloy Jimenez (4-for-8 this season) left the game due to light-headedness and is considered day-to-day. Chicago manager Rick Renteria had planned to miss Monday’s game out of precaution while waiting for test results after waking up with a cough and nasal congestion.

• Cease made 14 starts in his rookie campaign and went 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four September appearances. The 24-year-old Georgia native struck out 81 batters in 73 innings overall, but served up 15 homers. Francisco Lindor went deep last year against Cease, who gave up four runs on four hits with 11 strikeouts and two walks over 6 2/3 innings versus the Indians on Sept. 3 only to settle for a no-decision.

• Civale did not allow more than two earned runs in his first nine major league starts last year before losing to the White Sox in his final outing of 2019. The 25-year-old Connecticut native gave up just 44 hits across 57 2/3 innings while limiting opponents to a .216 batting average. Civale was 1-1 versus the White Sox in September, surrendering seven runs (five earned) over 8 1/3 frames, and James McCann homered against him.

• Chicago CF Luis Robert belted his first career homer Sunday and the 22-year-old was 4-for-11 in the opening series.

• Cleveland OF Domingo Santana, signed as a free agent in the offseason, is 3-for-5 with an RBI after his first series with the club.

• The White Sox took 11 of the 19 meetings in 2019 after losing five of the previous six season series.