This is it. The American League Central is on the line this week as the Chicago White Sox host the Cleveland Guardians for three games. The Sox trail the Guardians for the lead in the division by 4.0 games. It is a situation where the White Sox pretty much need to sweep them to have a chance.
It is well known that Dylan Cease is going to start the first game of the series. He has a chance to put a bow on a Cy Young type of season. He still has another start or two to go this season but this is the one where dominating would be extra notable.
Cease is a strikeout pitcher that relies on his stuff for his success which makes pitching against Cleveland difficult because they don’t strike out. If anyone is able to overcome this, it is Cease. Take a look at his almost no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins for evidence.
On the opposing side, the Cleveland Guardians are going to face off against Aaron Civale. He is the type of pitcher that White Sox hitters have struggled against this year as he is a good pitcher having a tough year. Those guys, for some reason, have dominated the White Sox in 2022.
The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians are playing for it all this week.
It would be nice to see the White Sox turn that narrative around and give Cease some run support early in the game. The offense has been much better lately and now is a great time to have one of those games where they go off. This is the starting lineup that will try to get it done:
- Elvis Andrus – SS
- Yoan Moncada – 3B
- Jose Abreu -1B
- Eloy Jimenez – DH
- Andrew Vaughn – RF
- AJ Pollock – LF
- Luis Robert – CF
- Seby Zavala – C
- Josh Harrison – 2B
To be honest, this feels like the best nine that the Chicago White Sox can put out there this season. Elvis Andrus, Eloy Jimenez, Jose Abreu, and Andrew Vaughn have been the best run producers for them this season so it is good to see them right there in the middle of the lineup.
Luis Robert is in the lineup which is interesting to see. He is someone that has battled a wrist injury for most of the second half. If he can be healthy enough to play then he should be healthy enough to play well. If he can be, albeit in the seven spot, the Luis Robert that we know, he can be a game breaker.
They opted to go with Seby Zavala over Yasmani Grandal which is a sad but correct decision based on how 2022 has gone. Zavala has provided a bit more offensively and he is much better behind the plate. This is the right move.
If guys like Yoan Moncada, Josh Harrison, and AJ Pollock can provide some much-needed offense, that will help this team as well. They need all hands on deck to get a victory here. We can only hope that this is the lineup to do it.