Not watching the game today but following close enough so that I feel comfortable making this post.  Gio is our ace and needs to start Game 1.  This is also no disrespect to Lynn or Rodon who have been fantastic this year, Cy Young worthy, but Gio has been our stopper this year and the dude who, when we have needed not just a big outing but a deep outing, he has delivered.  Think his 8 innings against the Twins after the loss.  Or the complete game against the Astros (I believe his last two starts against them have been complete games).  Or the start in Tampa.  I know we all focus on the disastrous game three but lost in that was how wonderful he was in Game one of that series against Oakland.  Dude carried a perfect game into the 7th inning in his first playoff start.  He's been their best pitcher in the second half as well.

He has been doing very well, I second the game 1 choice. I will also add that his numbers against the Astros are very very good.

1 hour ago, Colome's Hat said:

Not watching the game today but following close enough so that I feel comfortable making this post.  Gio is our ace and needs to start Game 1.  This is also no disrespect to Lynn or Rodon who have been fantastic this year, Cy Young worthy, but Gio has been our stopper this year and the dude who, when we have needed not just a big outing but a deep outing, he has delivered.  Think his 8 innings against the Twins after the loss.  Or the complete game against the Astros (I believe his last two starts against them have been complete games).  Or the start in Tampa.  I know we all focus on the disastrous game three but lost in that was how wonderful he was in Game one of that series against Oakland.  Dude carried a perfect game into the 7th inning in his first playoff start.  He's been their best pitcher in the second half as well.

He had some bad luck and could have picked up a few more wins. I'm not sure who TLR will pick to start the first game but I have no trouble with it being Gio.

Cease has the most extreme home/road splits so he should pitch at home.

Lynn is historically bad at Houston so he should pitch at home.

If the Sox aren't using those two data points to make this decision then something is very, very wrong.

That leaves Giolito and Rodon to pitch games 1-2, and Giolito is going to be better able to come back on 4 days rest for game 5, so I send him out for game 1.

I would go Giolito/Rodon/Cease/Lynn.

Gio may lead the staff, but never forget that MBINAA.

4 hours ago, Colome's Hat said:

Not watching the game today but following close enough so that I feel comfortable making this post.  Gio is our ace and needs to start Game 1.  This is also no disrespect to Lynn or Rodon who have been fantastic this year, Cy Young worthy, but Gio has been our stopper this year and the dude who, when we have needed not just a big outing but a deep outing, he has delivered.  Think his 8 innings against the Twins after the loss.  Or the complete game against the Astros (I believe his last two starts against them have been complete games).  Or the start in Tampa.  I know we all focus on the disastrous game three but lost in that was how wonderful he was in Game one of that series against Oakland.  Dude carried a perfect game into the 7th inning in his first playoff start.  He's been their best pitcher in the second half as well.

I don’t disagree with your analysis, but I still want Lucas pitching game 2. If we win game 1, he can bury Houston. And if we lose game 1, game 2 becomes extremely critical, and I’d love to have Lucas on the hill for that. 

right now he is pitching the best.. but its been up and down all year for our pitchers.

 

depends a lot on health also.

 

Rodon healthy is i think is our most dominant pitcher.

Gio has had a great season and I'd be cool with him getting game 1.

Having 4 good options is pretty sweet. 

Hopefully they'll all be healthy enough to go all out come October

I love Giolito and Lynn mainly because I have really high confidence that they can figure stuff out when it gets out of whack. Like the anti keuchels 

Also yes I agree with Giolito - Rodon 1-2 Lynn 3 Cease 4 

16 hours ago, WhiteSoxFan1993 said:

Cease has the most extreme home/road splits so he should pitch at home.

Lynn is historically bad at Houston so he should pitch at home.

If the Sox aren't using those two data points to make this decision then something is very, very wrong.

That leaves Giolito and Rodon to pitch games 1-2, and Giolito is going to be better able to come back on 4 days rest for game 5, so I send him out for game 1.

I would go Giolito/Rodon/Cease/Lynn.

I'd like to see this, unless they're down 0-2 going into game 3 then you flip Cease and Lynn.

What I'm actually expecting is Gio/Lynn in 1 & 2. I really don't feel great about this Rodon thing, so, in my mind, any playoff innings from him are a bonus unfortunately. 

I’m expecting Lynn, Giolito, Rodon/Kopech, Cease, Lynn and Giolito in game 5 if needed.

Offense needs to score some runs and not make this order a real issue.

15 minutes ago, Snopek said:

I'd like to see this, unless they're down 0-2 going into game 3 then you flip Cease and Lynn.

What I'm actually expecting is Gio/Lynn in 1 & 2. I really don't feel great about this Rodon thing, so, in my mind, any playoff innings from him are a bonus unfortunately. 

That's what I'm expecting, but it's wrong. The numbers make it very clear that Lynn shouldn't start in Houston. Start Rodon and have Lopez and Kopech ready to take over.

I do like the idea of starting Cease in Game 3 if up 2-0 or tied 1-1 and starting Lynn in Game 3 if down 0-2.

 

Think ya gotta go Gio in the first game. He’s been less injured and better than both Rodon and Lynn in the second half. Second game is a coin flip, they have to be looking at the stats against Lynn in Houston compared to home. 

11 hours ago, bmags said:

Also yes I agree with Giolito - Rodon 1-2 Lynn 3 Cease 4 

At this point I think it has to be Gio-Lynn.....then Rodon and Cease can fight it out. The Rodon right now isn't May Rodon.