Chris Sale to Lead Sox in Rubber Match – Lineups 7/15

Day of rest lineup? Not today, not this Sunday. Chris Sale will go to the bump in the rubber match with the full complement of offensive support. Who says it doesn’t pay to sit out a start? Sale missing his last scheduled start at the end of the first half to be able to pitch in the All-Star game (or, you know, just sitting out like was the plan all along) upset some people. More so when the game ended in a loss via slugfest. But the Sox are right where they want to be, in a position to win 2 out of 3 in a city where they are typically pleased to just not have been swept. If I was choosing a guy I’d want leading the battle on a day like today, it’d be Chris Sale.

Today’s Lineup:

1.De Aza – CF
2.Youk – 3B
3.Dunn – DH
4.Paulie – 1B
5.Rios – RF
6.AJ – C
7.Dayan – LF
8.Alexei – SS
9.Gordo – 2B

I’ve been getting a sinking feeling when Paul Konerko comes to bat lately. I feel like he’s making outs every time he steps to the plate. I looked into it and in the month of July he’s batting .243. It’s not .350, but it’s hardly a terrible, eye-popping slump either. It’s saying a lot about what we’ve come to expect from Paulie. If he’s not tearing up opposing pitchers, the relative scale makes it seem like he’s stinking up the joint. If this stretch is Konerko’s bottom for the season, it’s all the more reason to appreciate our team’s leader.