Gamethread: Athletics at White Sox

After a heart-racing finish to last night’s ballgame, it’s time for the Chicago White Sox to channel their inner calm. Considering that the Hall of Fame induction of Harold Baines will be celebrated before this afternoon’s baseball game, this is the perfect time for the Sox to find their inner Baines!

Calm, cool, and collected Lucas Giolito will help lead his ballclub to a win in Baines’ name and a third straight series win. Giolito, in 22 games, is 12-5 with a 3.44 ERA and a 4.0 WAR this season. As the ace of the staff and a hopeful Cy Young Award candidate, Lucas continues to prove himself worthy, and he should have another well-pitched game.

Chris Bassitt of the Oakland Athletics and formely of the South Side will be Giolito’s mound opponent. Bassitt, in 19 games, is 7-5 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.7 WAR. Bassitt has recently seen the South Siders in Oakland on July 13. He pitched six shutout innings and recorded the win for the A’s. Today, the Good Guys would like to put their heads down and let their bats speak for themselves in a Baines-approved fashion.

The Boys in Black will line up as follows:

Jon Jay will lead off the game after Leury García was a late scratch. Tim Anderson slides up to the two-spot, and Eloy Jiménez frog hops Matt Skole for the fifth spot.

The A’s lineup is projected to be this:

Former Sox No. 2 will bat leadoff. Nick Martini and Matt Chapman will round out the top of the order. Chad Pinder, who was robbed of extra bases by Jon Jay last night, finds his was in the seventh spot. It’s a dangerous lineup, but we have a dangerous pitcher.

Speaking of pitchers, Kelvin Herrera was reinstated from the 10-day IL.

Today’s 1:10 CT ballgame will be broadcasted by WGN; WGN will also have your radio coverage. It’s Harold Baines Day, Lucas Giolito Day, and there’s a chance to win three straight series! I’ll have the sunglasses emoji handy.