Battered and dazed, White Sox unwisely arrive in Detroit – Lineups & Preview 7/9

Sep 12, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox center fielder

(28) is caught stealing by Detroit Tigers shortstop

(27) during the first inning at US Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Riding what’s now, for them at least, a rather pedestrian four-game losing streak and having scored 19 runs in their last nine games, the last-place White Sox head into Detroit–who sit in first place with the best run differential in the American League–to face Justin Verlander. Baseball, this whimsical, drunkenly random game, often has surprises laying in wait. Unexpected triumphs, singular moments of luck and rare opportunity burst out when we least expect it.

But in all likelihood, the Tigers are going to brutally eviscerate the White Sox like a Sherman Tank running over a can of refried beans. Kind of like they did last year in head-to-head competition, but worse. Considerably worse.

White Sox lineup

1. Alejandro De Aza – CF
2. Alexei Ramirez – SS
3. Alex Rios – RF
4. Adam Dunn – 1B
5. Jeff Keppinger – DH
6. Conor Gillaspie – 3B
7. Dayan Viciedo – LF
8. Gordon Beckham – 2B
9. Josh Phegley – C

Jose Quintana, SP

This lineup.

This damn lineup.

I…

What would possess man to…

I mean, the crux of the matter is…

I guess the thing with Viciedo is, well, yeah, he’s hopeless against Verlander, but he’s also the youngest batter in this lineup and maybe there’s a chance and what the hell else is there to do right now?

RUN! EVERYBODY RUN! DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS!!!!

Detroit Tigers lineup

1. Austin Jackson – CF
2. Torii Hunter – RF
3. Miguel Cabrera – 3B
4. Prince Fielder – 1B
5. Victor Martinez – DH
6. Jhonny Peralta – SS
7. Matt Tuiasosopo – LF
8. Hernan Perez – 2B
9. Alex Avila – C

Justin Verlander, SP

At least the bottom of the Tigers’ order is funny. Their injury replacement for Omar Infante‘s name rhymes with a brutal Spanich conqueror, Alex Avila is a shell of his former All-Star form and their left fielder is the cousin of the guy who catfished Manti Te’o. Tuiasosopo would be a whole lot funnier if he weren’t hitting .342/.467/.603 in limited plate appearances.

Jose Quintana was outstanding his last time out, locating his fastball brilliantly and striking out a career-high 11 batters over seven shutout innings. Naturally he got a no-decision–his seventh straight–and the White Sox needed a walk-off in the ninth to beat the Orioles, but what more could you want? It was also the last game the Sox won. Jose holding the Tigers to two runs or less over no fewer than six innings is pretty much the White Sox only shot tonight. Please tune in, watch, then voluntarily read things we write about it.

Where to Watch: WCIU in Chicago, Fox Sports Detroit in, well, Detroit.

Follow James Fegan on Twitter @JRFegan