Gamethread: Marlins at White Sox

We were able to get Miss Manners to confirm that by starting last night’s game with 15 straight outs and then losing badly, the Chicago White Sox have fulfilled their obligations as a welcoming host, and rules of etiquette allow for less hospitality tonight. Since losing two out of three at home to the Miami Marlins ranks with, oh, maybe, losing four straight in Kansas City, that’s a welcome interpretation.

The White Sox will be trying to take the home series against the worst team in the National League, and worst-hitting team in the bigs by runs per game, behind Reynaldo López. Lopez finally has an ERA of less than 6.00, a 5.76 achieved by giving up just two earned runs in 13 innings in his last two starts.

If the López of those two games shows up, the Marlins should be eminently hookable. If it’s the old López, with its Reylocation problems, even beached fish can show life.

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Facing Lopez will be rookie righty Zac Gallen. Gallen will be making just his sixth major league start and looking for his first victory. His 0-2 record is mostly a factor of the Marlins’ anemic offense, though, because he’s never given up more than three runs, and that only once.

Last time out, Gallen held the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers to three hits and one earned run in 5 ¹⁄₃ innings. He did walk four, a continuing problem for him, but since the Sox are disinclined to accept a free pass even when a pitcher almost demands his right to one, that may be less of a factor tonight.

AJ Reed got one of the two Sox hits last night, so he naturally moves down in the order for the rubber game:

The Marlins have shortstop Miguel Rojas back and leading off for what is an all right-handed lineup except for Curtis Granderson:

M. Rojas, SS
B. Anderson, 3B
G. Cooper, DH
N. Walker, 1B
S. Castro, 2B
C. Granderson, LF
H. Ramirez, RF
J. Alfaro, C
C. Puello, CF
Z. Gallen, SP

First pitch 7:10 CDT on a beautiful night for baseball. WGN has both broadcasts.