Jake Peavy is missing the start with back spasms, Gavin Floyd is looking into whether he needs Tommy John surgery, Courtney Hawkins has a shoulder strain and is getting an MRI. Diminished John Danks is facing live hitters in a real game in Birmingham tonight. Dayan Viciedo is eligible to return from the disabled list this weekend, but yeah, I doubt it. Gordon Beckham is likely out for all of May. Jordan Danks has a knee contusion he’s working through. Angel Sanchez has been on the DL since mid-April and might just be stashed there until someone notices. Jeff Keppinger’s first game back was Wednesday night.
Dewayne Wise is the picture of health.
Don’t look now–okay, look, LOOK!–but Conor Gillaspie is leading the team in average, on-base percentage, slugging, WAR and smiles. He’s also got a pretty high strikeout rate but there’s just too much competition in that category.
White Sox Lineup
1. Alejandro De Aza, LF
2. Jeff Keppinger, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Paul Konerko, 1B
5. Adam Dunn, DH
6. Conor Gillaspie, 3B
7. Alexei Ramirez, SS
8. Tyler Flowers, C
9. Dewayne Wise, CF
Hector Santiago – LHP
A note from Mark Gonzales on the White Sox impromptu starter
Santiago threw bullpen session Tuesday, curious to see how sharp he'll be tonight, weather permitting. current temp is 46
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) May 2, 2013
These are troubled times. But it’s Thursday! Almost time when it’s socially acceptable to drink until unconscious.
Texas Rangers
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Elvis Andrus, SS
3. Lance Berkman, DH
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B
5. Nelson Cruz, RF
6. A.J. Pierzynski, C
7. Jeff Baker, LF
8. Mitch Moreland, 1B
9. Craig Gentry
Justin Grimm – RHP
Way to take forever to get your lineup in, Texas. Ron Washington seems to be a fan of the 105 minute-long pregame shower.
Justin Grimm of the Rangers will be making his sixth major league start Thursday night after recently being named AL Rookie of the Month of April. He currently sports a sparkling 1.59 ERA to offset a minor league track record that suggests he isn’t overwhelming and a projected existence as a middle-of-the-rotation starter who needs refinement with his secondary pitches.
Santiago starting on short notice means the White Sox will see the Texas Rangers’ “Aw nuts, it’s a lefty!” lineup on three-straight nights. There’s been no Leonys Martin nor any David Murphy, but there has been Jeff Baker hitting like a Hall of Famer. A.J. Pierzynski will finally start for the first time in the series after dealing with oblique issues–See! Told you he was old!–and when people get a load of his batting line this year, they’re going to be really upset.
Weather: A deep cold is stretching over the Texas plains. A stretch of frigid air in which the very souls of men can be reduced to hollow, brittle and empty frames of the picture of warmth and humanity that once resided within. High in the mid-40’s.
Where to Watch: CSN+. Here’s the channel guide to figure out what that is.
Follow James Fegan on Twitter @JRFegan