White Sox try to snap, er, wait…CONTINUE winning streak – Lineups – 4/27

Three-game winning streaks seem pretty darn easy in retrospect.

All it takes is quality starts–one of the few things this White Sox roster can seem to produce on demand–and the ability to hit home runs out of U.S. Cellular Field; a feat accomplished by Tyler “Released by the Astros this season” Greene, Hector “30 year-old rookie” Giminez, Conor “Traded so he wouldn’t get DFA’d” Gillaspie and Adam “In the doldrums” Dunn in the past two days.

With Jeff Keppinger still out with ‘White Sox third basemen back disease,” the White Sox are hopeful that the practice of getting power-hitting from reserve infielders who weren’t on the roster at the start of March will continue.

Just look! There’s Tyler Greene at the top of the lineup tasked with providing support to Alejandro De Aza’s 28.6% strikeout rate.

Look! There’s Conor Gillaspie starting against a left-handed pitcher (although moved down a slot).

Not that these are unreasonable decisions by any means. The lineup could hardly afford to lose Gillaspie at this point, Tyler Greene deserves a statue for only striking out once in 12 plate appearances, and if anything, it took stones and patience for Robin to slide his full-time catcher back in the lineup, since he hasn’t gotten on base this week.

April is a confusing time. At least there’s always Alex Rios

White Sox Probables

1. Alejandro De Aza, CF
2. Tyler Greene, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Adam Dunn, DH
5. Paul Konerko, 1B
6. Alexei Ramirez, SS
7. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
8. Tyler Flowers, C
9. Jordan Danks, CF

• Gavin Floyd, SP

The bottom-half of the Rays batting order remains more or less clownshoes, but James Loney has been John Olerud so far this year and is 4-5 for the series and doubled twice off Jake Peavy last night. Joe Maddon’s attempt to re-jigger platoon-bat Matt Joyce by putting him at the top of the lineup last night produced a solo home run and Desmond Jennings’ return to the top of the order to end Maddon’s two-game spree of tossing middle infielders into the outfield.

No one knows where Matt Moore nor Gavin Floyd are throwing the ball so far this season. Both are striking over a batter an inning while walking well over 10% of the hitters they have faced. Moore has the advantage of an ERA slightly over 1.00 and not being saddled with a lengthy reputation of being perfectly capable of generating results unworthy of his talents and peripherals. Floyd’s last start was quality and B.J. Upton isn’t around to give him flashbacks.

Tampa Bay Probables

1. Desmond Jennings, CF
2. Matt Joyce, RF
3. Ben Zobrist, SS
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. James Loney, 1B
6. Shelley Duncan, DH
7. Kelly Johnson, 2B
8. Jose Molina, C
9. Sam Fuld, LF

• Matt Moore, SP

Weather: 50’s, overcast

Where to Watch: CSN – Here’s a channel guide