The two teams with the worst Cactus League records battle for the bottom
Yep, the San Diego Padres (4-12) have been even worse than the Sox (5-11), who are trying for their first two-game winning streak of the spring.
This will be a day to see whether Jonathan Cannon shows up or if, once again, it is just Jonathan Popgun. The righty, who had several fine games last season, has been shellacked for six runs in five innings in two appearances this spring, falling victim to the long ball big time, with three homers allowed. On the plus side, at least he hasn’t walked anyone (okay, okay, he’s hit two batters, but we’re not going to notice that). Maybe the third start will be the proverbial charm and all that.
It will be old buddy Dylan Cease on the mound for the Friars, having avoided being traded so far this spring. Cease has had his own gopher ball problems, with two offered up in 5 2⁄3 innings.
Actually, old White Sox buddies will just be in the dugout or hanging around since the very young Sox lineup only has one player who took the field with Cease in the regular season, Lenyn Sosa. The batting order is almost all rookies or pre-arb types, with the notable exception of 31-year-old Joey Gallo, who’s 2-for-19 with 10 Ks and quite possibly on his last shot today — oh, how soon a once mighty hitter has fallen.
Here’s how the Padres will line them up. Skipper Mike Shildt is sending out plenty of his regulars this afternoon.
The first pitch is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. CT. You can watch for free today on MLB TV.