ALDS Game 4: White Sox-Astros Preview and First Pitch

We thought Carlos Rodón’s career came down to his ill-fated relief appearance in Game 3 of the Wild Card series last year.

But maybe it’s all come down to this instead?

Then again, if Rodón can redeem himself after the previous October, he’d be one game away from having another start in store.

However it happens, Rodón seems like the right guy to have on the mound for an elimination game. He’s a big reason why the White Sox won the AL Central as easily as they did, so it’s hard to imagine them advancing into October with zero contributions from him. He could also be the wrong guy if he struggling to keep his fastball vibrant, but he’s the best of a whole bunch of imperfect choices, assuming he can maintain his recent condition at the very least.

The good news is that Monday’s rainout replenished the White Sox bullpen after the group’s heroic effort in Game 3. If Rodón can throw three decent innings, Tony La Russa can stitch together the final two-thirds of the game with his five most trustworthy relievers, as well as Lance Lynn for an inning. There’s always the chance that one of those guys doesn’t have it, but at least everybody should be OK with a given decision (at least the ones that don’t involve Craig Kimbrel).

On the other side, every Houston partisan should feel great about sending Lance McCullers Jr. to the mound on full rest for Game 4. He dominated the White Sox in Game 1 like he shut them down in the regular season, and there’s no particular reason to think it should go terribly differently. His strengths slot right into the White Sox’s weaknesses, making damage hard to come by.

The solace is that the White Sox would have to beat him — or outlast him — in one of the final two games anyway, and maybe home field can tilt something in their favor.

La Russa isn’t leaving it all to fate. He’s made one tweak in the lineup that would ordinarily minor, except it’s always news when José Abreu isn’t batting third. La Russa moved him down, putting Tim Anderson, Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert in top three spots. The goal is to frontload the lineup with the guys having the most consistently formidable at-bats. They also possess the kind of speed that makes extra bases easier to come by, and double plays harder to turn. Another byproduct is moving Eloy Jiménez down to the sixth spot, which is probably a good idea against McCullers. Every little bit helps.

* * * * * * * * *

First Pitch

Time: 1:07 p.m. CT

TV: Fox Sports 1

Lineups:

POSWHITE SOXORDERASTROSPOS
SSTim Anderson1Jose Altuve2B
CFLuis Robert2Michael BrantleyLF
3BYoán Moncada3Alex Bregman3B
1BJosé Abreu4Yordan AlvarezDH
CYasmani Grandal5Carlos CorreaSS
LFEloy Jiménez6Yuli Gurriel1B
DHGavin Sheets7Kyle TuckerLF
RFLeury García8Jake MeyersCF
2BCésar Hernández9Martin MaldonadoC
RHPCarlos RodónSPLance McCullers Jr.LHP

Author

  • Jim Margalus

    Writing about the White Sox for a 16th season, first here, then at South Side Sox, and now here again. Let’s talk curling.

    View all posts
Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon
Become a patron at Patreon!
127 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
theironschenk

Sox In 5

John SF

Yeah, that sounds about right to me for the ALCS as well.

Not sure about the WS though. I see that going to 6 or 7. The Giants are no joke.

jorgefabregas

Have some meetings this afternoon, so if the White Sox could have a minimum inning in the top of the first and score about 13 runs or so in the bottom of the first, I’d be much obliged.

calcetinesblancos

Rodon is my ride or die.

vince

I took a half day off at work and would like a win please.

Joliet Orange Sox

Would you be rooting for a loss if you were at work?

GrinnellSteve

That’s what work will do to you.

Flitcraft

98.8 mph. That’s Hard Karl.

Foulkelore

That was the second fastball. The first was 92.7. That’s quite the dial up in intensity. After that first fastball, the rest were all 96.8+. He looks great at that higher velocity. Now, we’ll see how long he can throw like that.

Flitcraft

98.8 mph. That’s Hard Karl.

To add: That was against Bregman. Then hit 99.4 against Alvarez.

CaptainEuphemism

I’m hopeful he’s not throwing his arm off, but if he does, hopefully it’s a few innings down the road. Now let’s get some hits!

HallofFrank

He’s back. This could be a fun one.

roke1960

WOW!!! I didn’t expect that! The place is rockin!!!

As Cirensica

I’m haing internet issues…missed the first inning. PANIC

John SF

Is it just me, or is Wainright a really good analyst?

He’s obviously been pitching a very long time in a very crafty way. His voice is also just of s really nice timbre.

Last edited 3 years ago by John SF
As Cirensica

It is not only you

asinwreck

He’s good, and this booth works splendidly together. I’d like to see these three work together in the future.

As Cirensica

Still internet problems…I just saw a Katz visit to the mound….anyone knows why?

vince

Pick out a wedding gift

Foulkelore

He just answered an on-field interview with “there was something that was on my mind that need to be addressed and I think we did.” So, no details, but Wainwright just speculated maybe pitch tipping.

Flitcraft

Boooooooooom!

As Cirensica

Sheets can’t leave this playoff without hitting a bomb. Our righty killer. Too bad for Meyers. That looks painful.

calcetinesblancos

Great adjustment by Sheets. He looked completely lost against LMC in the last game, especially when he was getting those breaking balls.

As Cirensica

Cesar Hernandez wears a pine tarred helmet like Abreu

As Cirensica

And he is getting on-base in a Grandal-esque way

As Cirensica

Walks have been hurting the White Sox in this series really bad

As Cirensica

DEADLY!

Foulkelore

Kopech warming, so gamesmanship by TLR saying he was the only one not available?

Joliet Orange Sox

Rodón gave it his all. Have to respect the effort.

As Cirensica

Vic Carapazza strike zone is irregular.

roke1960

It seems like we say that about every ump.

roke1960

I think he made himself some money today.

calcetinesblancos

The ump, or Carlos?

LamarHoyt_oncrack

I dunno, I don’t think going 2+ innings in a playoff game after barely pitching the last 2 months is going to give teams a ton of confidence in his durability, sadly. Love the guy but how much value does he have to a team trying to win in the playoffs?

jhomeslice

He might have a ton of value if he became open to being a reliever.

As Cirensica

AJ going hard on TLR for not bringing in Kopech to face Correa

calcetinesblancos

Makes it weirder when you’re willing to bring him in one batter later.

burning-phoneix

Rodon owns a .473 OPS against when facing Correa for his career. It wasn’t a bad decision.

HallofFrank

I didn’t mind sticking with Rodón there. Velocity was 97, 98. He got up 0-2, but I’m not sure 3 fastballs was the way to go. I would have liked to see him bury a slider or changeup before going back to a 3rd fastball.

jhomeslice

I’m not convinced Kopech would have gotten them out of the inning anyway.

Foulkelore

Kopech almost got caught watching. Great play by Abreu!

Last edited 3 years ago by Foulkelore
vince

Sox offense is back in ground ball mode.

ParisSox

This is a really high quality broadcast. Lots of interesting insight, great interplay between Wainwright (P) and AJ (C) from their perspectives. Amine is good. I’m telling the wife and kid to shut up so I can listen!

ForsterFTOG

Any time the Sox want to stop challenging the Astros with constant fastballs would be ok.

Foulkelore

Yeah, don’t complain about them stealing signs if you’re going to throw a fastball on every pitch.

vince

In the end Kopech less “secret weapon” and more “young player pitching in his first posteason”

ForsterFTOG

More hype than anything else.
Every team has a Michael Kopech.

vince

Feels like a 10 run lead with McCullers in

Foulkelore

Yeah, this 5-1 deficit is a lot different from the game three 5-1 deficit.

jhomeslice

But also not like game 1. McCullers nowhere near as sharp, he can be gotten to. Except when Cesar is hitting.

Last edited 3 years ago by jhomeslice
Hulksmash

Four postseason games, not one quality start. Not even close. Hard to win when that happens. It’s not over, but that’s a backbreaker.

metasox

Fortunate health for most of the season finally caught up with this rotation as well. Teams need to go something like 8 deep. Lots of work on Hahn’s plate

dongutteridge

This should be a 2-1 game right now. The Sox suck at the little things. They might be the worst coached team in baseball.

Foulkelore

Sheets should remind Eloy how to hit for power and get the ball in the air.

mrridgman

Probably add Jose to that list.

As Cirensica

I was in a conference call. 5 x1???
WTF?

vince

I would be comfortable with not picking up Hernandez’ option.

roke1960

No chance they’re picking it up.

As Cirensica

If all it is incentivizing Hahn to resign Leury

roke1960

There are plenty of good quality 2nd basemen available. Chris Taylor would be on the top of my list.

burning-phoneix

I don’t think Chris Taylor is that big of an upgrade over playing Leury full time at 2B.

jhomeslice

I hope not. Ditto Kimbrel. I know people want them to pick it up and trade him, but who is going to trade for a $16 M reliever who blew chunks the last 2+ months? I say stay away and never look back.

roke1960

Agreed. Assess his value immediately and if no one is interested, pay him the $1M and say goodbye.

LamarHoyt_oncrack

They need to get a real 2b, has to be their top priority, maybe even more than RF. They need a lot of things.

mrridgman

I think starting pitching is before both of these, they have 5 (if you count Keuchel and Kopech) with no high minor depth. That’s not enough these days.

metasox

Bullpen will need work too. And more so if Kopech is in the rotation. Hendriks, Bummer, and Crochet initially come to mind as the guys under team control who seem certain to have roles.

Last edited 3 years ago by metasox
metasox

Lack of minor depth could be a reason to keep Kopech in the bullpen as depth to start the year. If they can’t stash starter depth in the minors, they need to have it availabe in the ‘pen

shaggy65

He’s definitely still a $6M player, but I’d be fine with a decline if they have a clear upgrade planned.

As Cirensica

Cesar…you have to swing the bat. At least once. Awful to strike out looking at 3 strikes. Just awful.

asinwreck

Ryan Tepera having himself a good series.

As Cirensica

He should have come after Rodon

roke1960

Hey Dusty, his name is Ryan Tepera. You might want to learn that since he has shut your team down twice now.

vince

Sox should resign him.

Foulkelore

AJ questioning a player about doing/saying something controversial with a straight face is quite the thing. We had the Bull Durham wedding present mound visit earlier. Also pertinent: “The world is made for people who aren’t cursed with self-awareness.”

roke1960

Top of the order. It’s time to do some damage.

Foulkelore

And McCullers out early.

ForsterFTOG

Dusty is already looking to the ALCS.

Foulkelore

Ump’s strike zone wasn’t too bad earlier, but it’s getting bad this inning.

Flitcraft

That was the beef getting set down. Winter is coming.

xubrent

Wouldn’t it have made more sense to bring in Tepera before Crochet. You gave them looks at fireballer after fireballer after fireballer. I think it’s obvious the Astros can hit fastballs.

vince

Bummer

As Cirensica

This game seems out of reach. No McCullers, but 5 runs deficit in 3 innings? Ryan Pressly is around the corner. He is a tough pitcher.

shaggy65

Two straight post-seasons that Renteria’s bullpen management has cost us. It might be time to consider finding a new leader in the dugout

As Cirensica

Who though?

roke1960

And what would you have done differently today? Everyone can be a Monday morning quarterback. The Astros know how to win. The Sox are still learning.

ForsterFTOG

Not let Rodon load the bases and then bring in a tired, disinterested Kopech?

As Cirensica

I would have brought Tepera. The Bummer. But hey, we all are managers if we have an ISP.

roke1960

So he was the bullpen savior a few days ago, and now he’s just tired and disinterested. Wow.

shaggy65

Don’t get me wrong–Tony hasn’t been awful, but he hasn’t been great either. Today is yet another example of him using Kopech in exactly the wrong situations. Let a real reliever come in with guys on base. Hell, bring in Kimbrel if you want. Don’t pitch your tired, rookie, sort-of-a-starter in a pivotal moment where he’s set up to fail.

metasox

Seemed like Tepera could have been warming for the 3rd with runners on. Kopech and Crochet early, then Tepera / Bummer feels very formulaic. Though that still leaves late innings to cover with the secondary relievers.

burning-phoneix

Nah not Kimbrel. He’s useless outside of a save situation with zero people on base. Maybe Tepera and Hendricks are the only ones who can get out of that situation.

roke1960

How about the last game? Dusty bringing in a guy with a 2-0 count would have driven you crazy.

ForsterFTOG

So he’s worse than Dusty Baker.

As Cirensica

Ouchhh

roke1960

LaRussa 3 rings, Dusty 0.

ForsterFTOG

How’d he do this year, Mrs LaRussa?

LamarHoyt_oncrack

His rings were between 10 and 30+ years ago, not relevant to his current managerial acumen.

And I’m not laying much of their postseason on him, the talent isn’t there to beat the Astros. But TLR isn’t great, and that’s a very kind and understated way of putting that.

Last edited 3 years ago by LamarHoyt_oncrack
metasox

On the other hand, since the new manager didn’t do the trick, now there is no excuse to not spend money on players.

Last edited 3 years ago by metasox
vince

Robert out

Root Cause

What was on our grocery list about this time last year.

  • Head Coach
  • R. Fielder
  • Starter or two
  • 2nd baseman (Nick was injured and didn’t yet have a nickname)

We went to the store but the list hasn’t changed.

roke1960

Tony will be back. So don’t spend all of the next 6 months lamenting that.

As Cirensica

I think he signed a 2 years contract and there is no way Reinsdorf will fire him.

metasox

To be fair, there might be more on the list this year

burning-phoneix

They did go out and get a Starter or two. Too bad all of the rotation decided to pick the same time to get roughed up.

As Cirensica

The White Sox will make a few more post season with this core, but having a good young core is not enough. Reinsdorf has to realize that he still has to spend and sign good players to complement. Next year free agent list is loaded with talent. No time for dumpster diving this off season.

burning-phoneix

I don’t think next season’s FA class is loaded with the talent the white sox need. There’s no really great 2B’s on the market. Right Fielders, maybe Castellonos or Starling Marte but I just feel those deals are gonna blow up in the Sox’s face if they get them.

metasox

I don’t know what all is available, but if there isn’t much in position player areas of interest, they can emphasize other areas – double down on pitching (which they need anyway) or bench depth.

Shingos Cheeseburgers

Beginning to think my expectation for success for the season, looking competent in the division series, may not come to fruition.

As Cirensica

White Sox fans on 1st game:
“Where the fuck is Michel Kopech? La Russa sucks”

White Sox fans on 4th game:
“Why did he bring in Kopech? La Russa sucks”

roke1960

Best comment of the day.

metasox

Never understood why Kopech was treated like he was Hader. He was interesting because he might be able to cover multiple innings out of the pen. But other than that, he was still just an unproven pitcher

burning-phoneix

He started the season really strong. I think that colored a lot of people’s opinion of him

ForsterFTOG

Because La Russo was wrong both times.

Flitcraft

Nice of the rest of the lineup to allow rookie Sheets to hit today’s ceremonial double.

vince

Fitting that Kimbrel should put this completely out of reach.

Shingos Cheeseburgers

It’s a good thing none of these games have been close so the stolen bases don’t matter at all

Shingos Cheeseburgers

As the longest tenured White Sox they should give Leury the honor of pitching the ninth.

asinwreck

White Sox pitchers have been very considerate. The postseason schedule may have interfered with Ethan Katz’s fitness routine, but they are collectively making sure he is getting his steps in.