The Unknown of Coors Field - Game Preview & Lineups 4/7

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The White Sox continue a six-game road trip with their first visit to a National League park on Monday as they begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

The White Sox are 6-3 all-time against the Rockies, including 5-1 at Coors Field. However, the teams haven't faced each other since 2011 when they won two of three, also on the road.

The Rockies' lineup against the White Sox won't be completely filled with unknowns, with former Twins Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau manning right field and first base, respectively.

Cuddyer, 35, is coming off his most successful season as a pro, with Coors Field getting at least partial credit for his numbers (he hit .356/.414/.582 at home a year ago). He's a career .297/.352/.465 hitter against the White Sox with 19 home runs in 585 plate apperances.

It's hard to believe, but it's now been eight years since Morneau was the American League MVP with the Twins and he's battled injuries in recent seasons, most notably a concussion in 2010 that lingered for a considerable amount of time. He signed with the Rockies in the offseason after spending the latter half of 2013 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's a .270/.343/.478 lifetime hitter against the White Sox with 25 home runs in 580 career plate appearances.

The Rockies' lineup as a whole is largely unfamiliar with Monday's White Sox starter Felipe Paulino. Only Cuddyer, Morneau, Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki have seen him in his career with Tulowitzki (4-for-12, 1 RBI) and Cuddyer (2-for-6, 1 HR) the only even semi-noteworthy numbers. Paulino, of course, spent part of the 2011 season with the Rockies and has allowed 15 earned runs and three home runs in 18.1 innings lifetime at Coors Field, including two starts.

Similarly, the White Sox's lineup isn't familiar with the Rockies' Monday starter, Jordan Lyles. The 23-year-old right hander has had one career start (two appearances) against the team, allowing four earned runs in 4.2 innings pitches. The only members of Monday's lineup who have seen Lyles are Alejandro de Aza (2-for-3) and Alexei Ramirez (1-for-2). Adam Dunn, who will likely only see time as a pinch hitter in a series where pitchers bat, is 1-for-2 lifetime off of Lyles.

One other note on Dunn, however, given his years in the National League: He sports a .956 OPS for his career at Coors Field with nine home runs in 126 plate appearances. No other member of the White Sox's roster has more than a handful career at-bats in Denver (although one of Adam Eaton's five career HRs did come there). But again, given the NL park, it's unlikely we will see Dunn except as a pinch hitter, unless Robin Ventura wants to give Jose Abreu a day off.

I'm sure you're sensing a theme by now. Yes, this three-game set will likely be chock full of unfamiliarity. So Abreu should fit right in.

Today’s Lineup:

  1. Eaton - CF
  2. Semien - 2B
  3. Abreu - 1B
  4. Gillaspie - 3B
  5. Garcia - RF
  6. de Aza - LF
  7. Ramirez - SS
  8. Flowers - C
  9. Paulino - P

Felipe Paulino - SP

Rockies Lineup:

  1. Charlie Blackmon - CF 
  2. Michael Cuddyer - RF
  3. Carlos Gonzalez - LF
  4. Troy Tulowitzki - SS
  5. Justin Morneau - 1B
  6. Wilin Rosario - C
  7. Nolan Arenado - 3B
  8. D.J. LeMahieu - 2B
  9. Jordan Lyles - P

Jordan Lyles - SP

Where to Watch:

Today’s game will be broadcast on Comcast Sports Net and ROOT Sports. 7:40 Central start time.