Teahen is best bet vs. Indians starter Carmona

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Friday, Oct. 1, 2010
5:15 PM

By Brett Ballantini
CSNChicago.com

Friday nights pitching matchup is an intriguing one, with the ace by default of the Cleveland Indians, Fausto Carmona, taking on wannabe starter Tony Pena of the Chicago White Sox. Carmona has sported a strong record but weak supporting numbers in his career vs. the White Sox, while Pena has been lights-out (a 0.93 ERA!) vs. Cleveland.

Carmona brings a career mark vs. the White Sox of 6-3 with a 4.50 ERA to his start tonight, but has seen his starts vs. Chicago marked by wildness, (1.43 WHIP and 1.45 KBB). In September and October in his career, Carmona has gone 9-8 with a 4.45 ERA. And in four games at U.S. Cellular Field, the righty is 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA, with a 1.47 WHIP and horrendous 0.54 KBB.

Mark Teahen, tonights No. 3 hitter and right fielder, is the best bet vs. Carmona, with a .387 career average and .858 OPS.

Heres Chicagos complete starting lineup vs. Carmona:

1. Juan Pierre, left field (1-5, .200 career vs. Carmona)
2. Omar Vizquel, shortstop (1-5, .200)
3. Mark Teahen, right field (12-31, .387, .858 OPS)
4. Dayan Viciedo, first base
5. Mark Kotsay, designated hitter (3-13, .231, 5 Ks, .804 OPS)
6. Tyler Flowers, catcher (0-1, .000, HBP)
7. Brent Morel, third base
9. Alejandro De Aza, center field
9. Brent Lillibridge, second base (0-2, .000, BB)

Pena has never started a game vs. Cleveland, but has been a Wahoos killer in his career, going 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA, with a 1.19 WHIP and 2.00 KBB). In September and October, Pena has gone 4-3 with a 4.39 ERA. And in 46 games at U.S. Cellular Field, the righty is 3-1 with a 4.61 ERA, with identically mediocre 1.55 WHIP and 1.55 KBB.

Only one member of the Wahoos lineup has had as many as seven at-bats vs. Pena, so projecting success for them vs. the White Sox starter is sketchy at best.

Here is Clevelands complete lineup vs. Pena:

1. Michael Brantley, center field (1-3, .333, K)
2. Asdrubal Cabrera, shortstop (0-2, .000, BB)
3. Shin-Soo Choo, right field (2-5, .400, 1.100 OPS)
4. Travis Hafner, designated hitter (0-1, .000, BB)
5. Jayson Nix, third base (1-2, .500)
6. Trevor Crowe, left field (1-4, .250)
7. Matt LaPorta, first base (2-7, .286, two Ks)
8. Luis Valbuena, second base (1-6, .167)
9. Lou Marson, catcher (0-3, .000, K)

Brett Ballantini is CSNChicago.coms White Sox Insider. Follow him @CSNChi_Beatnik on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Sox information.

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