(670 The Score) Facing elimination in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Astros on Sunday evening, the White Sox will turn to right-hander Dylan Cease to keep their season alive.
"If a game like that doesn't bring the best out of you, I don't know what else will," Cease said Saturday. "We are not mopey about anything. There will be pressure, but that's what the playoffs are and that's everything we have been playing for."
The White Sox trailed 2-0 against the Astros in the best-of-five series as it arrives at Guaranteed Rate Field. The team tabbed Cease to start Game 3 after considering him and left-hander Carlos Rodon, who has been dealing with shoulder soreness in recent weeks. To hear manager Tony La Russa explain it, the decision had more to do with what Cease has proved this season than it did Rodon's health. Cease went 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 32 starts in the regular season.
"I watched from spring training on his improved delivery and being able to command pitches," La Russa said. "He took it into the regular season and sometimes early, it was really good and then he fought through some struggles. He never quit competing. He's the right choice (Sunday).
I am fired up to watch. We all are."
Despite being in a hole, the White Sox remain confident.
"We know what kind of ball club we," shortstop Tim Anderson said. "We know what we can do, so there is never any pressure. The moment is never too big for us. We need to keep battling and picking each other up. We need to enjoy the moment."
For his part, La Russa isn't going to change his approach in leading his team.
"I am the guy who was taught a certain way," La Russa said. "I manage the first day of spring training like it is the last game I will ever manage in my life. So get used to the urgency. As a manager, you practice the urgency for every day until now. I always kid about winning every game in spring training because that is where you begin your focus. We have been talking to the guys on the side. They know (Friday's) effort was special. There was nothing wrong with the way we competed. They made a lot of plays and so did we. We will continue to talk among ourselves, but we will not have a team meeting."
Center fielder Luis Robert echoed that sentiment.
"Look, we must find a way to win the game," Robert said. "We need to continue to find more life for us. Sunday is the most important game of the season for us, but I don't feel any different. We have to play the same way and find a way for us to win the game. The only conversation we have now is to go game by game. There is nothing else we can do. It is a do-or-die situation. We feel very confident with all of our starting pitchers."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
