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MLB playoffs 2021: White Sox tab Dylan Cease as ALDS Game 3 starter with season on the line

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The Chicago White Sox will start right-hander Dylan Cease on Sunday against the Houston Astros in Game 3 of their American League Division Series. The White Sox trail the Astros 2-0 in the best-of-five series, meaning Cease will be tasked with keeping Chicago’s championship hopes alive for another day.

“He’s the right choice for tomorrow, and I’m fired up to watch him,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa told reporters Saturday about Cease. “We all are.”

Cease, 25 years old, will be making his first career playoff start. He threw an inning of scoreless relief as part of last fall’s Wild Card Series versus the Oakland Athletics. During the regular season, Cease started 32 times and compiled a 3.91 ERA (111 ERA+) and a 3.32 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2021. He was especially good late in the year, as he surrendered just one run or fewer in five of his final seven starts.

As our Mike Axisa noted, one of the keys for the White Sox to come from behind and win the series entails getting a strong outing from their Game 3 starter. Neither Lance Lynn nor Lucas Giolito, Chicago’s Games 1 and 2 starters, have delivered. 

The White Sox’s choice for their Game 3 starter boiled down to Cease versus left-handed veteran Carlos Rodón. Rodón’s status has been in question as he lost velocity down the stretch while he battled with fatigue and shoulder soreness. Should the series stretch to a fourth game, Rodón would be the logical candidate to start.

The Astros, for their part, will be countering Cease by starting rookie right-hander Luis Garcia, who had a 3.30 ERA (130 ERA+) and a 3.34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30 regular season outings.

The White Sox will be hosting their first home playoff game since 2008, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series. The Rays would eventually represent the AL in the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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