Why Not Just Win Another One? – Game Preview and Lineups 8/6

It’s a shame to think that people are less interested in tonight’s game which pits White Sox ace Chris Sale against Yankees ace Hiroki Kuroda. It’s true though, Alex Rodgriguez’s 2013 debut is through, and though the media will still be hanging around, and there will be folks in the house there with the expressed purpose of booing or cheering A-Rod, the circus will be a little less so tonight, and even less than that tomorrow, until the circus leaves town and the Sox are back to just trying to win baseball games like everybody else. Meanwhile, there is no more losing streak and Hector Santiago wants to know if he’ll have an opportunity tomorrow to establish a different kind of streak:

Let’s get back to Chris Sale vs. Hiroki Kuroda, because it is a big deal. The two pitchers are having wonderful years despite their team’s lack of success. Kuroda’s 2.38 ERA is good for second in the AL, and when you adjust for the fact that he pitches in Yankee Stadium while the league leading Felix Hernandez pitches at Safeco, Kuroda emerges with a league leading 167 ERA+. He’s managing this without leaning on strikeouts, which may call into question the sustainability, but it’s hard to deny that his last month has been ridiculous. In his last 5 starts he’s allowed a total of 2 runs, going 7 innings in all but one of those.

Sale is of course coming off of that poor outing in Cleveland, which he came out of after only having thrown 79 pitches, the least all season. With a rested arm and probably a little edge about having been shown up his last go, Sale is going to be looking up to step up big and go deep for the Sox tonight.

Today’s Lineup:

1.De Aza – LF
2.Ramirez – SS
3.Rios – RF
4.Dunn – DH
5.Konerko – 1B
6.Gillaspie – 3B
7.Beckham – 2B
8.Danks – LF
9.Phegley – C

New York Yankees Lineup:

1.Brett Gardner – CF
2.Alfonso Soriano – LF
3.Alex Rodriguez – DH
4.Robinson Cano – 2B
5.Vernon Wells – RF
6.Jayson Nix – 3B
7.Eduardo Nunez – SS
8.David Adams – 1B
9.Austin Romine – C

Where to Watch
Today’s game will be broadcast on WGN and MY9. 7:10 Central start time.