The set-up: The Chicago White Sox visit Progressive Field for the first game of a three-game series with the AL Central Division-leading Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. Chicago's early good start has been long-forgotten, as the 56-61 White Sox open the series 11 1/2 games back in the division and hardly much closer in the wild card race, sitting nine games out. Meanwhile, the 67-49 Indians lead the division by five games and the team's 35-21 home, where Cleveland has averaged 5.93 RPG, has been a big part of the team's postseason push.

The pitching matchup: Jose Quintana (9-8, 2.85 ERA) will take the mound for Chicago and Corey Kluber (12-8, 3.21 ERA) goes for Cleveland. Quintana has pitched well the last few seasons but earning wins has always been a huge challenge for this lefty. Quintana is 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his last seven starts (team is 5-2 ) and in 16 career appearances vs. Cleveland (14 starts / team is 6-8), he is 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA. In six career starts at Progressive Field he owns a 1.17 ERA. Kluber won the AL Cy Young award in 2014 but despite a decent 3.49 ERA in 2015, fell to 9-16 plus finished the season with MLB's worst moneyline mark (11-21, minus-$1747). However, Kluber hasn't lost a game since July 3. He is 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA in those six starts (team is 4-2), while holding opposing hitters to a .200 BA. In 13 career starts vs. the White Sox, Kluber is 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA (team is 6-7).

The pick: The White Sox are really just playing out the string plus as noted earlier, always seem to have trouble backing Quintana on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Kluber is having an excellent bounce-back season and enters this contest with five consecutive winning home starts, while posting a 1.00 ERA. Throw in the fact that the Indians have won six straight contests between these division rivals while limiting the White Sox to a total of 12 runs, and the Indians are an 8* play.