Chicago White Sox: Lucas Giolito should be the game one starter

The Chicago White Sox are going to the playoffs for the second year in a row. This time around, they are the American League Central Division Champions. It has been a long time coming but the rebuild is over. They are one of the very best teams in all of baseball. Now, they are finishing the final week of the season trying to make sure their entire roster is ready to go.

The big topic surrounding the team going into the postseason is the starting pitching rotation. There are a lot of different opinions on the topic in terms of who should start at one time. Of course, the White Sox has five starters in consideration. Those pitchers are Carlos Rodon, Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease, and Dallas Keuchel.

Reynaldo Lopez has been a sixth starter for the White Sox in the latter portion of the season but that is so everyone else can have some extra rest. That has been one of the many luxuries they have had as a result of dominating the division all season long. Lopez has been much-needed help but he isn’t in consideration for a playoff start.

We will find out the status of Carlos Rodon in this upcoming series against the Cincinnati Reds. He has been one of the best pitchers in the league this season but he has experienced some arm issues down the stretch. If he is good after this start, he will be on the playoff rotation. If not, Dallas Keuchel will probably be that fifth starter instead of moving to the bullpen.

That takes a candidate away from being the game one starter. Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, and Dylan Cease are the other worthy candidates. Dylan Cease is already confirmed to start the last game of the regular season so that probably takes him out of the running.

Lucas Giolito should be the playoff game one starter for the Chicago White Sox.

Out of Giolito and Lynn, most people might want Lynn. However, Lucas Giolito is the right pick for this job. In the second half of the season, Giolito has been the team’s best pitcher. He is getting really hot at the perfect time.

In the 2020 postseason, Giolito was the game one starer and was magnificent. They need more of that from him in this year’s postseason. Having Lynn in line for game two would be so perfect ahead of Cease and potentially Rodon. When you mix in a potential Michael Kopech start, you have yourself a brilliant rotation.

Giolito is this team’s ace. He had a tough start to the season so his overall ERA doesn’t match Rodon or Lynn but he has been just as good as them in recent months if not better. Giolito should have one more start this weekend against the Detroit Tigers. That should be perfect to get him ready for the playoffs. Whether he is the number one or two, he is going to be brilliant for this team.