With the series tied 1-1, the Chicago White Sox are in do-or-die mode this afternoon in Game 3 of the best-of-three wild-card series with the Oakland A’s.
The White Sox got through a 60-game season and made the playoffs without Michael Kopech, the presumptive No. 3 starter behind Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel.
After the two aces and the other two first-week starters — Dylan Cease and Reynaldo Lopez — the Sox used five different pitchers in the rotation: Carlos Rodon (2 starts), Gio Gonzalez (4), Dane Dunning (7), Jonathan Stiever (2) and Matt Foster (2).
Now we’ll see if the decision by Kopech to opt out before the 2020 season will damage their chances of advancing in the postseason.