Brenton

Doyle

Doyle gets the nod over Braden Montgomery, who has gone just 1-for-19 thus far in his playoff at-bats. The full lineup as the White Sox try not to blow a 2-0 lead and advance to the ALCS against the Rays: 1. Sam Antonacci LF, 2. Kyle Teel C, 3. Miguel Vargas 3B, 4. Munetaka Murakami 1B, 5. Andrew Benintendi DH, 6. Tristan Peters RF, 7. Chase Meidroth 2B, 8. Colson Montgomery SS and Doyle in center behind Sean Burke on the mound.

With left-hander Parker Messick taking the ball for the Guardians, Antonacci will begin this one on the bench for the White Sox. Fellow left-handed hitters Andrew Benintendi and Tristan Peters will also take a seat for the Southsiders. Here’s how Will Venable’s club will line up as they look to punch their ticket to the ALCS on Thursday: Chase Meidroth (2B), Randal Grichuk (LF), Miguel Vargas (3B), Munetaka Murakami (1B), Tommy Pham (DH), Brenton Doyle (CF), Kyle Teel (C), Braden Montgomery (RF) and Colson Montgomery (SS).

What makes this interesting is that the Guardians are starting right-hander Daniel Espino as the opener for left-hander Foster Griffin. Antonacci usually doesn’t play against lefties, and his being the DH means that the White Sox have more flexibility to pinch-hit for him. There’s a chance that he gets his at-bat in the first inning and then, when his spot in the order comes up again, he could be replaced by Tommy Pham or Brenton Doyle, both of whom started in Game 1, to hit against the left-handed Griffin.

Benintendi will hit fifth and be the designated hitter, while Tristan Peters will bat sixth and play center field. Both of them were out for Game 1 against left-handed starter Parker Messick. While Benintendi never entered the game, Peters replaced Randal Grichuk when the Guardians went to the bullpen and went 1-for-2 with a single. Brenton Doyle and Tommy Pham will head to the bench for Game 2.

Doyle was able to get some revenge against his former team with the two-run shot. The 28-year-old was excellent in September with an .892 OPS, and now he’ll have a chance to continue it in the postseason against the Astros starting Tuesday.

Doyle smacked a leadoff single off of Framber Valdez in the fourth inning but was ultimately left stranded at third base. He then reached on a bunt single to start the sixth and swiped second base, but the White Sox were unable to bring him home. For the season, the 28-year-old outfielder is now hitting .226/.273/.317 with three homers, 12 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 199 plate appearances.

Peters doesn’t normally sit against left-handers, but the White Sox have opted to work in all of their bench bats in this one with Peters, Colson Montgomery, Andrew Benintendi, Kyle Teel and Sam Antonacci all getting a breather in this one. Brenton Doyle will start in Peters’ place and will bat sixth against Tigers’ southpaw Framber Valdez.

Montgomery has been really scuffling at the plate lately, slashing a putrid .143/.259/.257 with two homers, seven RBI and a 9/11 K/BB ratio over 81 plate appearances in his last 21 games, so giving him a day off to clear his head seems to make sense. Tristan Peters will slide over to cover right field while Brenton Doyle draws a start in center and will bat ninth for the White Sox against Michael McGreevy and the Cardinals.

Meidroth has started every game this week at second base for the White Sox, so he’ll get a well-deserved day off in this one. Sam Antonacci will cover second base while Brenton Doyle draws a start in center field and will hit eighth for the White Sox against Twins’ right-hander Zebby Matthews.

Doyle has six RBI the last two days after driving in one run in his first 18 games with the White Sox. In fact, the six RBI matches his total from his first 63 games this season. He’s batting .221/.272/.313 in 176 plate appearances for Colorado and Chicago.