Preview: Indians Look to Take the Series Over the Sox in Chicago With Afternoon Affair

The Indians are looking to get out of Chicago without any more injuries, as well as with a series win, and they have a chance today to do both. They watched as

The Indians are looking to get out of Chicago without any more injuries, as well as with a series win, and they have a chance today to do both.

They watched as one of their aces, Trevor Bauer, took a ball off his right leg on Saturday, but Terry Francona said after the game it appears to be just a bruise.

As for slugger Edwin Encarnacion, he's back in the 216 awaiting results of an MRI on his bicep that has been bothering him, and hopefully even if he does go on the DL, it will only be a 10-day visit.

For now, the Indians at 65-51 are in firm control of the division, which is a good thing, but it would be nice to avoid any more injuries over the final seven weeks of the regular season.

Here's a look at today's game with a quick preview.

Time: 2:10 p.m.

Starting Pitchers: RHP Carlos Carrasco (13-6, 3.69 ERA) vs RHP Dylan Covey (4-8, 5.58 ERA)

TV: SportsTime Ohio

Online: MLB.TV

Radio: WTAM 1100am, Indians Radio Network

1. Carrasco Looking to Get Back to a 'W'

After allowing a three-run homer to Mitch Garver in Tuesday's rain delayed affair at Progressive Field that ended up being the only blow of the game in the eventual Twins 3-2 win over the Indians, Carlos Carrasco is back on the hill today for the Tribe in the series finale.

Carrasco was 5-0 in his previous six starts before Tuesday's effort, and while he was still solid in that game, the offense didn't give him much and the three-run HR was enough for the Twins to get past the Tribe after an over two-hour rain delay.

The Indians starter is still having a very good year, 13-6 with a 3.69 ERA, and he will look to keep the ball rolling as he looks to take down the Sox lineup.

2. Make Sox Starter Dylan Covey Work

The Indians have made both Carlos Rondon and James Shields, the first two Sox starters in the series look pretty good, but hopefully Sunday they will have better success against Chicago starter Dylan Covey.

Covery has been flat out awful as of late, 1-7 with an 8.24 ERA in his past nine starts.

Monday in a loss to the Yankees he gave up four runs in 4.1 innings of work. The Tribe bats should have success and be able to make it a long day for the Sox starter.

3. The Pen Looking More Polished

There's been so many ups and downs this season for the Tribe bullpen, but Saturday was a high point, as the combo of Brad Hand and Cody Allen were able to shut down the Sox the last two plus innings to save the win.

No matter who it is, there's always going to be fear when a Tribe starter leaves the game, but Hand has really pitched well since he came aboard, and hopefully the team can get Andrew Miller to finally get back to form here as he keeps going out and throwing.

As for Allen, yes he's been the whipping boy of twitter this season, but he does have 22 saves, and did do his job on Saturday to earn his latest notch in the save column for the Indians in the 3-1 win.