Worth noting

• Right-hander Justin Masterson -- who strained a left oblique muscle in his Sept. 2 start against Baltimore -- continued his throwing schedule Friday, throwing on flat ground for the second consecutive day.

"He threw again today and will be [inactive] tomorrow," Francona said. "Then we'll ramp it up again Sunday. So there will be a natural progression, and you can't rush it. We'll just go according to plan."

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Thursday night marked the third occasion this season on which the Indians scored 14 runs in the first five innings of a game, also accomplishing the feat in a 19-6 win against the Astros on April 20, as well as in a 19-10 victory over the White Sox on June 28.

• The Indians' nine-game win streak against the White Sox entering Friday matched the longest active win streak of a Major League team against a single opponent, tying the Nationals (vs. the Mariners), D-backs (vs. the Astros), Angels (vs. the Tigers) and Rays (vs. the Twins).