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White Sox look to bullpen in Game 3 after dropping Game 2 to Athletics

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White Sox pitcher Matt Foster throws against the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game Monday, Aug. 31 2020, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) | AP Photos

The White Sox lost 5-3 to the Athletics, forcing a third and deciding game in their AL wild-card series. So now what? Or, more like, “now who?”

The White Sox lost 5-3 to the Athletics on Wednesday, forcing a third and deciding game in their American League wild-card series Thursday in Oakland.

So now what?

Or, more like, “now who?”

It says something about the Sox’ lack of starting-pitching depth after Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel that they don’t have a starter that falls in line. It also says something about their young bullpen that goes six deep in high-leverage quality that they feel good about their chances.

“We’re going to talk about it tonight,” manager Rick Renteria said when asked who would take the ball first against the A’s, who aren’t naming their starter, either.

Renteria most certainly knew what the Sox’ plan would be — they’ve had days to discuss a plan for a potential Game 3 — but the Sox’ way is to reveal as little as possible until absolutely necessary.

“Well, in essence, we’ll have a starter,” Renteria said. “Whether it’s classified as an opener or not, the truth is that all hands are on deck.”

Right-hander Dylan Cease, who pitched a perfect inning of relief Wednesday when the Sox were trailing 5-0, might have pitched himself out of consideration in his last few starts with control problems, although he did throw 10 of 14 pitches for strikes against the A’s. Reynaldo Lopez was left off the playoff roster, leaving rookie right-hander Dane Dunning as the next man up. But Dunning (2-0, 3.97), in his return from Tommy John surgery this season, allowed nine runs over seven innings in his last two starts against the Cubs and Indians.

If Dunning is trusted to start, it would be on a short leash, and a safer bet might be Matt Foster, one of the Sox’ rookie relievers who started two games and pitched two innings as an opener in bullpen games.

“We will try to do what we can, the best we possibly can, to minimize damage from the other side,” Renteria said. “And we have quite a few arms within our bullpen to try to accommodate that. It just depends. There are a lot of factors: the score, what inning we are in.”

Had Keuchel, who owned a 1.99 ERA during the regular season, not allowed five runs (three earned) and six hits in 3⅓ innings, the Sox already might be listing Giolito for Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Monday in Los Angeles.

Keuchel, who gave up two home runs during the season, allowed a two-run shot by former Sox infielder Marcus Semien in the second inning and a solo shot by Khris Davis in the fourth.

That was more than enough for another ex-Sox player, right-hander Chris Bassitt, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball. Yasmani Grandal’s two-run homer in the eighth against Liam Hendriks and bases-loaded walk in the ninth against Jake Diekman put Jose Abreu up with the bases loaded, but Abreu’s one-hop smash to second ended it and turned the page to Thursday.

It will be won or lost with the bullpen, and Keuchel likes what the Sox will bring.

“I’ve seen some very talented bullpens in my tenure as a major-leaguer,” said the 32-year-old with Cy Young and World Series credibility, “but for the amount of rookies that have come up and impressed beyond belief, it’s something that I’ve never seen before.”

The rookies include 100 mph-plus fireballing lefty Garrett Crochet and Foster and Codi Heuer. The more experienced group includes lefty Aaron Bummer and right-handers Evan Marshall and Alex Colome.

Any or all might appear in Game 3.

“We have anywhere from 100 to 97 [mph], so there’s no lack of velocity,” Keuchel said. “It seems like every guy that comes out of the bullpen has a put-away pitch and that high-velocity heater. If we go opener tomorrow, I feel confident. If we go Dane Dunning, I have the utmost confidence in him, as well, just based on how he has performed in this short season.

“We’re going to rest easy tonight, and we’re going to wake up with some confidence tomorrow for Game 3.”

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