CHICAGO -- This was definitely not the plan the Indians drew up entering the 2019 season.

The expectations heading into the year were simple: Hold opponents to as few runs as possible, so the offense could squeak by to win in low-scoring contests. But since Cleveland’s last off-day on May 15, the pitching staff has given up at least five runs in 12 of 15 games, including Carlos Carrasco’s rough outing in the Indians’ 10-4 loss to the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday night.

“We’re going to have some up and downs. This is a long season,” Carrasco said. “I have like 25 more starts. But at least we learn something from each start. But sometimes it’s frustrating. I work so hard to get results and everything’s gone a different way.”

• Box score

Between Carrasco and reliever Dan Otero, the Indians allowed their opponent to put up double-digit runs against them for the fourth time this year and gave up at least 15 hits for the third time this season. Cleveland has allowed 10-plus hits in three of the nine contests against the White Sox in 2019, as Chicago sits just one game back of the Tribe in the American League Central with three games remaining in the series.

May troubles

The starting rotation got off to a pretty strong start to the season, but quickly started to crumble as Mike Clevinger (upper back) was placed on the 60-day injured list after just his second start of the year on April 8. May didn’t get any easier.

An injury to Corey Kluber (fractured right arm) called for another Minor League arm. Trevor Bauer has labored through five starts this month, posting a 6.52 ERA. Carrasco had two shutout outings in his last six starts, but his last three have been a battle for the right-hander, and Thursday’s six earned runs on 10 hits through 6 1/3 innings certainly didn’t help. In his last three outings, Carrasco is 0-3 with a 7.13 ERA and six home runs.

“I’m frustrated,” Carrasco said. “You know what, after the [early] starts, I worked so hard to get results and I’m trying to put myself in a good spot right now. You know, getting pitching well. The last couple starts have been crazy, man.”

It was the first loss Carrasco has suffered in a start against Chicago since Sept. 12, 2016. He was previously 7-0 with a 0.73 ERA in nine starts against the White Sox since the start of the 2017 season, with Cleveland winning all nine games.

“You know, he started out OK,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “It just seemed like he got hurt when he elevated and not by trying to. I mean there’s obviously times you want to elevate, but there were instances where he’s leaving the ball up or not finishing a pitch and it just is really hurting right now. He’s paying for it.”

Battling the long ball

Over his last 37 1/3 frames, Carrasco has given up 10 home runs and has allowed 14 so far this season, including a third-inning, two-run shot by Yonder Alonso on Thursday. Here’s a look at his home run totals for the last few seasons:

2015: 30 starts, 18 homers

2016: 25 starts, 21 homers

2017: 32 starts, 21 homers

2018: 32 games (30 starts), 21 homers

2019 (through May 30): 12 starts, 14 homers

“To Yonder, he threw a fastball up that was right center, kind of hard to miss,” Francona said. “It’s just not locating consistently. You’ll see a couple good ones and then he’ll leave one somewhere and like I said, he pays for it.”

Luplow continues to mash vs. Chicago

While the Indians were unable to carry the offensive momentum from Boston to Chicago, a silver lining in the loss was Jordan Luplow’s continued success against left-hander Manny Banuelos. After his sixth inning blast, he’s now gone 4-for-8 with four homers against the lefty, hitting five of his seven long balls against the White Sox this season.

“I just think my approach plays into what he’s throwing,” Luplow said.

“I mean he obviously sees the ball well off of him,” Francona said. “And hopefully he can get a couple more lefties he feels like that because that’s a big presence for us in the middle of the lineup.”