Well now, with the entire Chicago White Sox universe pushing Ryan Cordell into the lead for the Opening Day center field slot, here on March 9, what ho, he’s in center and batting leadoff today. Go figure.
Cordell leads the White Sox in hitting (.421), on-base (.560) and OPS (1.244).
Time: 2:05 p.m. CST
Webcast: none
TV: MLBTV, also on delay on MLB Network (4 p.m. CST)
Radio: none
Presumably in preparation for tomorrow’s big WGN tilt vs. the Chicago Cubs, it’s a secondary lineup in Peoria vs. the San Diego Padres:
Today's #SoxSpringTraining starters.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 9, 2018
⏰: 2:05 PM CST pic.twitter.com/cE9rK74kzJ
Carson Fulmer gets his third start of the spring, and he’s been awful in his first two, losing both games and holding a 22.50 ERA and 7.00 WHIP over two innings pitched. In his spring career, Fulmer is 2-4 in 12 games (nine starts) over 29 2⁄3 innings, with a 6.67 ERA and 1.99 WHIP. He has never faced the Padres in the regular season.
Micker Adolfo gets his first start at designated hitter for the White Sox. The 21-year-old is 2-for-5 in Cactus play, with run, two RBI and a 1.171 OPS.
Luis Basabe has been getting some extended run in the early spring. He starts again in left field and has gone 4-for-17 so far this spring, with a .748 OPS. The 21-year-old has shown exciting flashes of leather and a strong arm in the outfield.
The White Sox made their latest round of cuts this morning, taking the roster down to 53.
And finally, here are the listed pitchers for Friday. With TJ House sent down, best guess is recent signee Robbie Ross takes his slot.
#whitesox listed pitchers at Padres: Fulmer, Santiago, Soria, Gomez, House, Bummer pic.twitter.com/sXDFc4Co50
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 9, 2018
It’s @CRThrees on the hill vs. White Sox at 12:10pm PT today! Here’s the full #PadresST lineup: pic.twitter.com/4uTCNOl5Mm
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 9, 2018
Ex-White Sox Clayton Richard, once the central piece heading to the Padres in the Jake Peavy trade in 2009, starts for San Diego. Richard has kicked around the majors for nine seasons, amassing 2.2 WAR.
So far this spring, the lefthander is 0-1 in two starts, pitching five innings and earning a 9.00 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. In his spring career, Richard is 8-14 in 49 games (35 starts), pitching 148 2⁄3 innings, with a 6.72 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.
Last year, Richard was pretty awful for the Padres, going 8-15 with a 4.79 ERA in 32 starts. His 15 losses, 240 hits allowed and 858 batters faced all led the National League — as did his two complete games. Richard earned 0.4 WAR in 2017.
In his career vs. the White Sox, Chicago’s eighth-round draft choice in 2005 is 1-0 with two innings pitched, three strikeouts and a walk. Richard was pitching for the Cubs at the time, on Aug. 14, 2015. Richard got the win in relief of Kyle Hendricks, who was shelled by the White Sox. Unfortunately, on the flip side, Jeff Samardzija also got rocked, surrendering two big homers to Chris Coghlan and Anthony Rizzo.
The Padres also made a round of cuts this morning. One of the names on the list should be familiar to White Sox fans:
The Padres made a round of cuts. They optioned Rowan Wick and Javy Guerra. They also reassigned Cal Quantrill, Trey Wingenter, Tom Wilhelmsen, Michael Mariot, Josh Naylor, Austin Allen and Franmil Reyes to minor league camp.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) March 9, 2018
And here are the additional pitchers for this weekend’s games:
#WhiteSox listed Saturday pitchers vs Cubs: Giolito, Avilan, Minaya, Farquhar, Rondon, Scahill, Cedeno, Jones, House.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 9, 2018
Sunday vs D-backs: Lopez, Dunning, Volstad, Gomez, Ross, Beck.