The Oakland Athletics announced their Game 1 lineup before the White Sox announced their postseason roster, and while the White Sox are no strangers to waiting until the last possible moment to reveal player assignments, at least they had a distinct reason for the delay.
They waited until the last possible moment to decide that Eloy Jiménez couldn't start.
Leury García is off the injured list, and he'll be thrown immediately into the fire, starting in left field in Jiménez's place against Jesus Luzardo as they try to reinforce their reputation against left-handed starters. Vinnie Duber relayed Rick Renteria's quote:
"Hopefully" packs a lot of mystery. Is he hopeful that Jiménez is available, that he'll be needed for a big pinch-hit at-bat, or can be a go-to guy who delivers that big pinch hit? I'm guessing more along the lines of the latter.
Left field is the only real surprise in the lineup. Renteria's playing all better players elsewhere. Renteria is deploying both catchers -- James McCann behind the plate, Yasmani Grandal at DH -- and the White Sox added Zack Collins added to the postseason roster to encourage him further. Also, Adam Engel is getting the start in right field over Nomar Mazara, which is de rigeur against lefties. When Chris Bassitt starts Game 2, that'll be more indicative of which outfielder he wants.
As for the 28-man roster, García and Collins are the notable additions, and the White Sox made room by leaving off Gio González (who's injured) and Reynaldo López (who isn't). The White Sox made room for García by designating Alex McRae for assignment.
WILD CARD SERIES ROSTER
STARTING PITCHERS
- Lucas Giolito
- Dallas Keuchel
- Dylan Cease
- Dane Dunning
RELIEF PITCHERS
- Aaron Bummer
- Alex Colomé
- Jimmy Cordero
- Garrett Crochet
- Matt Foster
- Jace Fry
- Codi Heuer
- Evan Marshall
- Carlos Rodón
CATCHERS
- Yasmani Grandal
- James McCann
- Zack Collins
INFIELDERS
- José Abreu
- Tim Anderson
- Leury García
- Nick Madrigal
- Yoán Moncada
- Yolmer Sánchez
OUTFIELDERS
- Jarrod Dyson
- Adam Engel
- Eloy Jiménez
- Nomar Mazara
- Luis Robert
DH
- Edwin Encarnación
* * * * * * * * *
As for the A's, they will benefit from the return of former White Sox farmhand JB Wendelken, who takes the place of Jordan Weems on the roster as a righty who figures to see action against the White Sox's mostly right-handed bats.
Otherwise, it seems like they're dancing with who they've brought. The only surprises are in the starting lineup, with the A's trying to get as many lefties toward the top of the lineup as possible.
STARTING LINEUPS
| WHITE SOX | ORDER | ATHLETICS |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Anderson, SS | 1 | Tommy La Stella, 2B |
| Yoán Moncada, 3B | 2 | Robbie Grossman, LF |
| Yasmani Grandal, DH | 3 | Marcus Semien, SS |
| José Abreu, 1B | 4 | Matt Olson, 1B |
| James McCann, C | 5 | Mark Canha, RF |
| Luis Robert, CF | 6 | Jake Lamb, 3B |
| Adam Engel, RF | 7 | Ramón Laureano, CF |
| Leury García, LF | 8 | Chad Pinder, DH |
| Nick Madrigal, 2B | 9 | Sean Murphy, C |
Pitchers: Lucas Giolito vs. Jesús Luzardo
PERTINENT: 2020 Wild Card Round Opponent Preview -- Oakland Athletics
SOX MACHINE PREGAME SHOW
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