Gamethread: Rays at White Sox

Amid rumors of an “opener” taking the mound for Monday’s series opener between Tampa Bay and the Chicago White Sox, the Rays have settled for ... 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell.

It’s a matchup of two of the best lefties in the American League, although such labeling is rather generous to Chisox ace Carlos Rodón. But Rodón has been one of the lone bright spots on the roster so far this season, and certainly the brightest one so far in the rotation. Natch, we’ll probably have a 12-11 slugfest in light of all the pitching matchup buildup.

With Avisaíl García’s return to Sox Park today, check out who’s leading off and playing right field: One of the former tres Garcías, Leury.

Not to be outdone, looksee who’s batting cleanup and depicted in Tampa’s lineup photo today ... our old pal, Avi. (Yeah, he’s hitting cleanup, but look who we’ve got in the four-hole today.)

The Rays somehow won 90 games last year with a team not terribly different than the lineup you see above, which is nothing short of miraculous. That they are both a 90-win 2018 team and far more loaded in the minors than even the rebuilding White Sox tells you a little bit about how to execute a rebuild correctly.

The Rays have won seven of their first 10 games this season, giving them a tie for the second-best record in the AL. The White Sox are 3-5, holding the fourth-worst record in the league.

Ballgame’s a WGN daily double once again, with first pitch at 1:10 p.m. CT. It’s also the MLB.TV free game of the day.