Gamethread: Dodgers at White Sox

OK, so it’s 50 minutes before game time and I just deleted my entire gamethread, nearly finished.

Let’s try this #(*$&%_)#($*% again.

***

A lights-out, ace, everybody-wants-him starter is taking the mound today at Camelback Ranch.

Miguel Gonzalez is also taking the mound today at Camelback Ranch.

Time: 2:05 p.m. CST

Webcast: whitesox.com

TV: MLB.TV

Radio: none

Gonzalez makes his first spring start for the Chicago White Sox. El Jaliscience went 8-13 last year in 27 starts for the Sox and Texas Rangers, with a 4.62 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 100 Ks, 55 walks and 1.5 WAR. He is 0-1 in two career starts vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers —both coming for the White Sox, in 2017 — with a 1.50 ERA, nine strikeouts and eight walks.

[Before the game, the White Sox announced that Leury Garcia would be replacing Tim Anderson in today’s lineup.]

Kershaw went 18-4 in 27 starts for the Dodgers in 2017, with a 2.31 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 202 strikeouts, 30 walks, a 180 ERA+ and 5.0 WAR. His wins, ERA and ERA+ all led the National League.

The Claw has four career starts against Chicago, stretching back to 2008, with a 2-1 record, 2.88 ERA, 26 Ks and seven walks. He’s also surrendered three home runs in just 25 innings pitched.*

Last year, Kershaw started once vs. the White Sox, on July 18, winning a 1-0 nail-biter over ... Gonzalez. Kershaw spun seven innings of seven-hit, seven-K, one-walk ball, raising his record to 15-2. The difference came in the top of the first, when Chris Taylor singled, stole second, and came home on a Cody Bellinger base knock. That’s it.

Avisail Garcia, Tim Anderson and Yolmer Sanchez all collected two hits against Kersh in that game, and until Anderson’s late scratch, all were scheduled to start today.

*the three home runs came off the bats of Adam Dunn (2012), Alex Rios (2012) and Jose Abreu (2014).

Joakim Soria is scheduled to pitch the ninth inning today in his Cactus League and White Sox debut. Michael Kopech is scheduled to start tomorrow at the Kansas City Royals. Per Chris Kuc, he is tabbed for a three-inning outing.

Thank you for your patience. Please comment below in at least sideways validation of my first near-heart attack of the season.