Chicago White Sox: Who will be the third starter in playoffs?

The Chicago White Sox are going to need a decision on who makes the third start of the postseason.

The Chicago White Sox are going to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. It is a big year for them and their development but at this point, they might as well try and win now. The future is going to be loaded with success so this year is free money so they might as well try. They are still battling it out for the American League Central with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians so we don’t know who they are going to play yet.

No matter who they play, the matchups are going to be important. The new Wild Card Round is going to be a three-game series so pitching is key. The White Sox are for sure going to use Lucas Giolito in game number one and Dallas Keuchel in game number two. The question for the team now is simply a matter of who will be the game-three starter.

There are a few different options and anyone you talk to will have a different opinion. The obvious answer feels like Dylan Cease. He has been their number three starter all season long. He is 5-3 with a 3.52 ERA. With that ERA, his number is around Giolito’s. The thing is, Giolito has a WHIP of 1.04 while Cease’s is up at 1.43. Cease gets himself into jams but then finds a way to get out of it a lot of the time. The problem is, what if he doesn’t get out it if once the playoffs roll around? It could cost the team a series win.

The next choice in most people’s minds is probably Dane Dunning. He only has a handful of starts so far and has performed well in most of them. The only blemish was a tough start against the Cleveland Indians earlier this week. He got off to a rough start but then he figured some things out as the game went along. Before that start, he seemed like he was going to be the guy but now you have to consider all of your options if you are the White Sox.

A case could be made for Reynaldo Lopez as well. He has pitched very well over his last three starts and two of them came against some really good teams in Minnesota and Cleveland. Before his stint in Schaumburg, however, he was terrible so if he started in the playoffs you wouldn’t necessarily know what you are getting from him.

Garrett Crochet has come in and made a handful of relief appearances so far. He has only given up one hit, issued no walks, and has five strikeouts. What makes the idea of him pitching fun is that he is the definition of a flamethrower. He can hit 100 whenever he wants and even recorded as fast as 102 multiple times. When he is on the mound it is must-watch TV so it will be interesting to see how they use him in the playoffs. Either way, one of these four guys is going to get the start in game three of their Wild Card series.