Fortunately, there’s always the draft. When things fell apart in last night’s crash-from-ahead loss to the Nationals, even after crushing Stephen Strasburg in the first inning, you could always direct your attention to the draft and a whole bunch of guys you never heard of before and may well never hear of again.
The draft rolls on and on today, with players you’re even less likely to have heard of or hear of again, but let’s hope the diversion isn’t necessary. Good pitching matchup today, at least on paper, with two righties who have struggled through much of the season but had excellent performances last time out.
Dylan Covey goes for the Sox, with just a 1-4 record and 4.73 ERA, but coming off his best showing of the year, six innings of one-run ball with just one walk and five Ks against Cleveland. He’s gone six in his last two outings, his longest stints so far.
Anibal Sánchez will be tossing for the Nats. He’s only 1-6 with a 4.47 ERA, but in his last outing, fresh off the IL (doesn’t anybody in MLB know IL is already taken by a rather major state?) for a nagging hamstring problem, he was masterful. The 35-year-old went six against the Braves, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out seven.
Covey has never faced the Nationals, but Sánchez has seen the Sox plenty from his six years in Detroit, and the Sox are up on him 6-3, with a 4.60 ERA. Most of the current team hasn’t batted against him, with only Tim Anderson and José Abreu having more than six ABs. Timmy is 3-for-12, but you should be able to see the gleam in Jose’s eye clear from Washington, because career vs. Sánchez he’s 12-for-21 with two four-bangers.
James McCann has the day off and, for some inexplicable reason, Welington Castillo is in the cleanup slot. Maybe Ricky Renteria had already put in “catcher,” forgetting who it would be:
The Nationals have Howie Kendrick, who came off the bench yesterday and hit a double and a homer, starting at second:
First pitch 12:05 Central. NBC Sports for the tube, WGN-720 for the wireless. Thunderstorms likely by late afternoon.