Game 8 open thread: White Sox vs. Indians

The latest on Carrasco, from today’s Game Notes:  “CARLOS CARRASO started last night’s game for the Indians, but faced just two batters prior to exiting with a jaw contusion…allowed consecutive singles to Adam Eaton and Melky Cabrera, but was struck by Cabrera’s line drive on the right side of his face…was taken to Lutheran Hospital, where X-rays came back negative…will be evaluated in coming days before next game action is determined.”
Now the Indians are telling the media he might start Monday.

Today is Jackie Robinson Day throughout all of Major League Baseball. Every player will wear No. 42 in honor of the man who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947.

Today’s game starts at 12:10 p.m. and will be on SportTime Ohio.

Lineups are not yet available but we know the starters will be Trevor Bauer and John Danks.

Bauer is pitching on five days’ rest after allowing no runs in six innings against Houston on April 9. He gave up five walks in what you will remember as a near combined no-hitter. The only hit was a homer allowed by Nick Hagadone in the ninth inning. Bauer had 11 strikeouts in that outing.

Danks is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA after a 5 2/3 innings outing against Kansas City. In his career, the lefthander is 5-11 with a 5.10 ERA against the Indians. He has 91 strikeouts in 127 innings against the Tribe. Danks is the fifth lefthanded starter the Indians have faced in the first eight games. They haven’t beaten any of them.

Ryan Rayburn is hitting .406 with two homers and 8 RBIs against Danks lifetime. Mike Aviles .294 in 17 at bats.

 
Aviles admitted to the Plain Dealer that he thought there were two outs when he was doubled off first Tuesday night. Michael Bourn also seemed to forget the number of outs after striking out later in the game.

No much new on Brantley. Game notes say: “MICHAEL BRANTLEY has missed 5 of Cleveland’s first 7 games this season due to lower back stiffness…was the starting LF on Opening Day, April 6 at HOU and again in the Indians home opener on Friday, April 10 vs. DET (put Cleveland on the board with a one-out, RBI-double down the LF line in the 6th inning, his first base hit and RBI of 2015)… dealt with similar symptoms late during Spring Training and was held out of morning workouts/Cactus League game action for several days.” He is not starting today.

Game time temperature is around 50 and is not expected to go much higher. There will be sunshine.

Thru 7 games, the Indians are hitting .190 (22-116) with a .514 OPS (.273OBP/.241SLG) against lefties overall, starters or relievers.

Chicago is hitting .301 (31-103) with five home runs and 15 runs scored over the last three games, compared with .183 (22-120) with two homers and seven runs scored over the first four.
Bauer is the first Indians pitcher to start a season with 9 no-hit innings since Bob Feller, who got all nine of his in one game.