Beginning of the End – Game Preview & Lineups 9/26
By Matt Adams
If the Royals keep the White Sox from eluding the 100-loss season, does that make them spoilers?
Who would have thought after they helped Chicago’s playoff dreams get stomped in 2012, that in 2013 they would have the power to send the Sox into the offseason carrying the somewhat arbitrary burden of a triple-digit-loss season? Kansas City is just always in the right place at the right time. Good for them, ya know? Of course, they did fail to make the playoffs themselves. No big deal, though. Wil Myers is probably a flash in the pan anyway.
Andre Rienzo missed his last start due to a blister and so it’s been about 2 weeks since he’s taken the field. His last appearance was against the Indians, so I don’t think I need to explain that it ended in a White Sox loss. Tonight he should be ready to go and provides a nice reason to watch as the season wanes down. Rienzo is in the mix to be part of the 2014 rotation, and hopefully the provider of good feelings heading into a long winter.
Jeremy Guthrie has been delivering at about league average this season. He’s owed $20M between 2014 and 2015. For his current level of performance, that’s probably somewhere around market, however it’s easy to forget that he is 34 years old and not a great bet to improve going forward. So while the White Sox may find it difficult to score runs on him now, realize that things might get better!
Today’s Lineup:
1. De Aza – CF
2. Semien – SS
3. Gillaspie – 3B
4. Konerko – 1B
5. Adam Dunn – DH
6. Avisail Garcia – RF
7. Viciedo – LF
8. Beckham – 2B
9. Phegley – C
Kansas City Royals Lineup:
1. Alex Gordon – LF
2. Pedro Ciriaco – SS
3. Eric Hosmer – 1B
4. Billy Butler – DH
5. Mike Moustakas – 3B
6. Justin Maxwell – CF
7. David Lough – RF
8. George Kottaras – C
9. Chris Getz – 2B
Where to Watch
Today’s game will be broadcast on CSN and Fox Sports KC. 7:10 Central start time.