Because you don’t know how many Chris Sale days you have left – Lineups & Preview 9/15

Looking distrustingly because YOU CAN’T TRUST ANYBODY. // Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

This is not a post reminding you that Chris Sale has wonky mechanics that ends with hands shooting out of the computer screen and grabbing you by the lapels while a voice booms “HE WILL GET HURT! HIS ELBOW WILL EXPLODE! FEEL BAD ABOUT IT!”

You get enough of that from national writers trying to casually pretend that they have properly vetted, let alone synthesized biomechanical studies and can casually make diagnoses beyond “Well, that looks weird,” or my favorite, “Ow!”

Rather, there’s been talk of starting pitchers getting shut down for the season as the innings pile up in a doomed season. John Danks is increasingly looking worn down coming off of shoulder surgery, Andre Rienzo is above his professional career-high in innings and looking ineffectual, Hector Santiago is above his professional career-high in innings and looking ineffectual, Erik Johnson is above his professional career-high in innings and looking ineffectual…

All of which is distracting from the jewel of the organization–Chris Sale–being set to cross the 200 innings threshold for the first time Sunday despite this only being his 28th start. There’s some desire to verify that Sale is capable of logging an ace workload and to keep his Cy Young candidacy strong, but both of those concerns would hopefully get brushed aside at the first sign of fatigue.

Of course, with rain in the forecast through 11 pm, Sale might not be adding any miles to his right arm all day. Maybe the White Sox can get a Joe West Special where Sale warms up, throws half an inning and is then immediately engulfed in a downpour.

White Sox Lineup:

1. Leury Garcia – CF
2. Gordon Beckham – 2B
3. Alexei Ramirez – SS
4. Adam Dunn – 1B
5. Jeff Keppinger – DH
6. Dayan Viciedo – LF
7. Jordan Danks – RF
8. Josh Phegley – C
9. Marcus Semien – 3B

Chris Sale, SP

Since finding his power and busting out for home runs in two-straight games at the end of August, Avisail Garcia has hit .200/.234/.222 in 12 games, just one of his nine hits has gone for extra bases and the White Sox have lost every contest in which he’s appeared.

UPDATE: And now Avisail has been scratched with no specific reason given.

Cleveland Indians Lineup:

1. Drew Stubbs – CF
2. Nick Swisher – 1B
3. Ryan Raburn – LF
4. Carlos Santana – DH
5. Yan Gomes – C
6. Asdrubal Cabrera – SS
7. Mike Aviles – 3B
8. Matt Carson – RF
9. Jose Ramirez – 2B

Zach McAllister, SP

The Indians, now winners of 14 of 16 contests against the White Sox this season, will be featuring their “One hand tied behind our back and the other hand is holding a glass full of cabernet sauvignon” lineup that offers days off to Jason Kipnis and Michael Bourn. Cleveland will just have to lean on Ryan Raburn, who has a .385/.444/.821 line against the White Sox this season with 18 RBI in 12 games, to make up for lost production.

Where to Watch: 1:10 pm CT or possibly five hours later? on CSN Chicago and Sports Time Ohio

Follow James Fegan on Twitter @JRFegan