Try not to get mutilated by Yu Darvish – Lineups & Preview 8/24

Ed Note: Hooray for Civil Rights!

Yu Darvish has never so much as recorded a quality start against the White Sox, and the offense has wandered out of the early-season wilderness (not in terms of performance overall but strikeouts), to where a 20-strikeout performance needs no longer to be feared with every cell in your body. Yet the combination of last night’s debacle, the terrifying mystery of Darvish and his endless complement of pitches and Tyler Flowers‘ mere presence is all enough to raise suspicion that disaster is lurking nearby.

Hide! Hide somewhere! Hide!

Conor “PAPA GILLA” Gillaspie is hitting a clean and crisp .262/.326/.418 against right-handed pitching this season, and thankfully returns to the lineup with Darvish on the mound.

A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad. A platoon of Jeff Keppinger and Conor Gillaspie wouldn’t be half-bad.

Sign Jose Abreu.

White Sox Lineup:

1. Alejandro De Aza – CF
2. Gordon Beckham – 2B
3. Alexei Ramirez – SS
4. Adam Dunn – DH
5. Paul Konerko – 1B
6. Avisail Garcia – RF
7. Conor Gillaspie – 3B
8. Dayan Viciedo – LF
9. Tyler Flowers – C

Hector Santiago, SP

Sox are going to need something strongly resembling Hector Santiago’ form from Aug. 2 when he struck out seven, walked one and allowed just two runs over seven innings in Detroit. Over his last three starts, Santiago only has nine strikeouts to eight walks over 16.2 innings and has allowed an .856 OPS. He’s still had a 3.24 ERA over that time because he’s the magical being known as Hector Santiago, but bad process is best avoided.

Texas Rangers Lineup:

1. Leonys Martin – CF
2. Elvis Andrus – DH
3. Ian Kinsler – 2B
4. Adrian Beltre – 3B
5. A.J. Pierzynski – C
6. Alex Rios – RF
7. Jeff Baker – 1B
8. Craig Gentry – LF
9. Jurickson Profar – SS

Yu Darvish, SP

After they had so much good fortune using Adam Rosales as a DH, Texas is upping the ante by putting Elvis Andrus in that spot Saturday night. “Watch us. Watch us win while sliding in a player from whom speed and defense constitutes the bulk of his value in the same spot you put Adam Dunn,” says Texas. Screw you, Texas, you’re impolite as hell.

Where to Watch: CSN Chicago & Fox Sports Southwest at 6:10 pm

Follow James Fegan on Twitter @JRFegan