Gamethread: Tigers at White Sox (opener)

If you’re thinking, “Wow, deja vu. I swear I read this yesterday,” you’d be right. After yesterday’s rainout, the Chicago White Sox find themselves in the same exact spot. There are just a few small adjustments to Tony La Russa’s lineup for the first game of today's doubleheader, and a couple of roster moves that need to be addressed.

The White Sox are 22 games into their season, and it’s felt like a lifetime. It has been an everlasting gobstopper of mediocre baseball. And yes, it is still considered “early” in the season, and there have been plenty of good signs — but at what game does Willy Wonka come out and say “You lose! Good day, Sir!” One can only preach patience for so long.

Like a few other losses this season, Tuesday night’s loss falls on Tony La Russa. He has committed numerous mental mistakes that have White Sox Twitter making sure they use every character it can to indicate their displeasure. And yes, La Russa fully admits these mistakes, he’s aware of them ... just not until after the game. Not sure if that’s a trait of Grandpa Joe or Slugworth ...

However, Chicago is 4-1 in their last five games. The boys are starting to hit (minus José Abreu, who usually comes alive with the warmer weather). And the majority of Chicago’s starting pitchers are hitting their marks and going longer into games (sometimes too long, now, but that certainly won’t be an everyday occurrence). Once the team is back at full strength and La Russa takes his fish oils, the Sox will be flying high on that elevator in the sky. So have faith, White Sox fans, because the sweet sweet center of that everlasting gobstopper is just a few licks away!

(Also, the last time the Sox were rained out, they won three straight. Fingers crossed for a rainout every fourth game if they can repeat that three-peat)

Carlos Rodón takes the bump for the White Sox in game one this evening. He is 3-0, with a 0.47 ERA, and has 24 strikeouts. His last two starts have been against Cleveland, one of them being the 20th no-hitter in franchise history. Greyson Greiner, Jonathon Schoop, and Miguel Cabrera have all had a decent amount of success against the old Rodón, but have yet to face the new and improved Carlos “The Golden Ticket” Rodón.

“There’s no earthly way of knowing, which direction his pitches are going!”

Chicago’s lineup looks as one would expect. Billy Hamilton will start in center field in place of Luis Robert, who just returned from the IL today. Hopefully, Robert will be ready for the nightcap

The White Sox also placed Garrett Crochet on the 10-day IL (retroactive to April 25) with an upper back strain and recalled Danny Mendick from the Schaumburg training facility to serve as the 27th man on the roster.

Nick Madrigal and Yasmani Grandal still have the opener off after going a combined 0-for-7 with one walk on Tuesday. Zack Collins will call the game behind home plate and Leury García takes command of second base. Yermín Mercedes was in yesterday’s lineup, but has since been replaced with Jake Lamb. José Abreu will DH, and Jeremy Lamb will play first base. Andrew Vaughn’s power off the bat has been tremendous (Top 20 in AL exit velocity so far this year), so it’s nice to see him get a start.

Here’s the lineup:

Casey Mize starts for Detroit. He’s had a rough year so far with a 1-2 record, 5.23 ERA, and 14 Ks. This will be his third career start against the Sox. In those two games, he’s struck out 12 batters over 9 ²⁄₃ innings and has walked away with two no-decisions. Hopefully, Chicago can put this one in the loss column and leave Mize feeling like Augustus Gloop.

The game starts at 4:10 p.m. CT. Ashley Sanders has your Six Pack of Stats coverage for the opener. The nightcap recap features Sam Sherman on coverage and Jeremy Karll on the Six Pack.

Jason Benetti and Steve Stone call the game for NBCSChicago. Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson for ESPN 1000.

Sit back, relax, and get ready to view paradise! (Guaranteed Rate Field).