The South Siders look to string wins as easily as they have losses
The call-and-response portion of the program today has already been posted: Do Spring Training losses really “not matter?”
So let’s dive right into a game getting “national exposure” on MLB Network, buffeted by an A-list lineup and an Angels club split into two squads for a pair of games today.
Per Daryl Van Schouwen, here’s the bullpen arsenal for today’s action, starting with an intended two frames from Jonathan Cannon: Jared Shuster, Tyler Gilbert, Penn Murfee, Justin Anderson, Fraser Ellard, Jordan Leasure. Shuster, as a pitcher still in contention for a rotation spot (or, at least, with a long relief role his to lose) is likely to see two innings as well.
Perhaps instructively, the first start in left field after Andrew Benintendi’s long-term injury yesterday is Corey Julks. But in all likelihood if only to justify Chris Getz’s fiddling while the South Side burns, one of the scores of AAAA outfielders on the roster (Mike Tauchman, Austin Slater, Michael A. Taylor, Joey Gallo) will be gifted Benny’s playing time. After all, Benintendi is the epitome of a AAAA player at this point, in production if not salary.
In the other dugout, the former left side of the last winning White Sox infield both now play for the Angels. Tim Anderson, who homered in action yesterday, is hitting sixth in the other split-squad game today, while Yoán Moncada is back in action as well, hitting ahead of TA at fifth.
Watch on MLB Network, or via MLB.TV you can catch the Angels FDSNW feed. No radio at all today. First pitch is at 2:10 p.m Central. I’ll catch you postgame, hopefully celebrating the first win streak of 2025.