Gamethread: White Sox at Cleveland
Out of the park: Dylan Cease is looking to avoid allowing a home run for the first time in his major league career. (Clinton Cole/South Side Hit Pen)
The White Sox enter this matchup on a painful seven-game losing streak. That matches the White Sox's longest losing streak of the season, which they "achieved" from July 12 through July 18. Their longest losing streak in 2018 was eight games. Do not match that tonight, White Sox.
Taking the mound for the White Sox will be rookie Dylan Cease, who has been off to a slow start in his major league career. Cease has a 6.92 ERA, 5.87 FIP, 4.81 xFIP, and he has been worth 0.1 fWAR in 10 starts. One of Cease's biggest statistical downfalls is his home run rate, as he has already allowed 13 in 52 innings (2.25 HR/9). Cease is still looking for his first start where he has not allowed a homer.
Starting for Cleveland will be 28-year-old righty Mike Clevinger, who has been fantastic this season despite missing over two months this season. Though he has only pitched 86 innings, Clevinger has been worth 3.3 fWAR. Clevinger boasts a 2.72 ERA, 2.24 FIP, and a 2.63 xFIP. Since Clevinger's return, he has been instrumental to Cleveland's turnaround this season. It will be difficult for the White Sox to break out of a slump against Clevinger, but hey, crazier things have happened.
Here are tonight's starting lineups:
Earlier today, the White Sox announced a few roster moves.
Congratulations to Danny Mendick for being promoted to the major leagues for the first time in his career. Mendick, who will turn 26 on September 28, is a middle infielder who has proven that he has the ability to get on base. In 133 games in Triple-A, Mendick slashed .279/.368/.444 with 17 home runs and a 109 wRC+.
Mendick's 11.8% walk rate this season gives us reason to be confident in his swing selection. Mendick is a potential threat on the basepaths, as he stole 19 bases with the Knights, though he was caught eight times, resulting in a success rate of 70.3%. Mendick was the White Sox's 22nd round pick in 2015, and he has slowly but surely made his way up through the system.
Zack Collins is back, as he had a brief stint with the major league squad in June and July. In nine games, Collins slashed only .077/.226/.192, but he crushed Triple-A pitching after his return to Charlotte. Tonight, Collins will bat ninth and be the White Sox's designated hitter.
Dylan Covey, 28, and Daniel Palka, 27, will get another shot. Both of these players have been sub-replacement level for their careers, though they have had their moments. Last season, Covey showed us his potential early on, and Palka had quite a few clutch hits, but unless their performance levels change soon, they are probably not key parts of the future. Palka will bat seventh and play right field tonight.
The game will start at 6:10 CST, and it will be televised on WGN. As usual, WGN 720 will have your radio coverage. Let's break this losing streak.