White Sox-Indians Preview

Including pitching the 21st perfect game in major league history, Philip Humber has set a number of new career marks over his last three starts. The last two outings, though, have yielded forgettable blemishes. Humber will try to get back on track Monday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader, which kicks off a four-game series between his visiting Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians. Humber (1-1, 4.62 ERA) tossed his gem against Seattle on April 21, but he hasn't come close to matching that performance since. He allowed a career-worst nine runs in five innings of a 10-3 loss to Boston on April 26, then gave up three runs and walked a career-high six in six innings during Chicago's 6-3 loss to Cleveland on Wednesday - the night after the birth of his first child. "I didn't feel great. I didn't have great stuff. I'm not going to blame it on lack of sleep or anything like that," Humber said. "Having a new baby is a blessing. I'm going to try to enjoy it, but at the same time, do my job." The right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.20 ERA in six appearances - four starts - lifetime against the Indians, who took two of three in Chicago last week. AL Central-leading Cleveland (15-11) has won six of nine overall after beating Texas 4-2 on Sunday, helped by a two-run double from Asdrubal Cabrera. The shortstop is 9 for 17 with three doubles, a homer and five RBIs over his last five games. Jason Kipnis homered Sunday to extend his hit streak to 10, during which he's batting .421. "We played a terrific series," manager Manny Acta said. "Anytime you take two of three from a team like that, it's very encouraging." The Indians will recall Zach McAllister to oppose Humber for his first major league outing this season and fifth start of his career. McAllister is 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Columbus. "He's thrown the ball well," Acta told the Indians' official website. "His last outing was very good. He's keeping his fastball down and maintaining his velocity that he showed in spring training. His secondary pitches are coming around." The right-hander went 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA in four starts in 2011, allowing two runs in 5 1-3 innings while not getting a decision in Cleveland's 5-4 loss to the White Sox on Sept. 20. Chicago (13-15) continues to struggle, having lost nine of 12 after falling 3-1 at Detroit on Sunday, though Adam Dunn has been hot. The slugger has homered in five of his last seven games and is hitting .333 with nine RBIs in that stretch. Dunn has nine home runs in 28 games after hitting 11 in 122 contests last season. Eric Stults will make his White Sox debut in the nightcap. It will be his first major league start since Aug. 9, 2009 - a loss to Atlanta while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander spent 2010 in Japan before posting a 6.00 ERA and no record in six relief appearances for Colorado last season. He's 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Charlotte this year. The Indians will counter with right-hander Josh Tomlin (1-2, 5.27), who allowed three runs in six innings while opposing Humber on Wednesday. Tomlin made his only other career start against the White Sox on April 9, giving up four runs in five innings of a 4-2 loss. The doubleheader was scheduled after an April 10 rainout.