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White Sox give slumping Lawrie a break

The frustration was noticeable.

In the White Sox's first two games of the series against the Houston Astros, Lawrie was 0-for-9 with 6 strikeouts.

A 2-for-21 slump in his last four games has dropped Lawrie's batting average to .252, and the bad body language was beginning to show.

On Thursday, Lawrie was on the bench after starting in the Sox's first 40 games. Avisail Garcia, 1-for-9 in the White Sox's first two games against the Astros, was also held out of the starting lineup.

Carlos Sanchez replaced Lawrie at second base and Jerry Sands filled in for Garcia at designated hitter.

"It's a day you have to get these guys in there," manager Robin Ventura said.

"Sandsy and Sanchy have to play. You got to get them some time. (Lawrie) definitely pleaded his case, but it was either going to be today or tomorrow for either one, so today is the day. You have to give him a day at some point."

Dropping down:

Jimmy Rollins was the White Sox's starting shortstop Thursday, but he dropped to the No. 6 spot in the lineup.

Carlos Sanchez hit second, Rollins' customary spot.

"Probably a little bit of both," manager Robin Ventura said when asked if the lineup change was made for Rollins or Sanchez. "With Sanchy in there, you can do a little with him in case you need to pinch-hit at some point. With Jimmy, it's just getting another guy, a more veteran presence, down a little later in the lineup."

Rollins has scuffled in the No. 2 spot, which is key in a lineup. Stay tuned to see if the drop is permanent.

"You always look at lineup changes and what would happen with guys in different spots," Ventura said. "When they're going good, it always looks good to move guys up. You've seen it in the past where we move guys into that 2-hole and it doesn't necessarily work. It changes maybe their approach or what guys are doing. It doesn't always work like, 'If the guy's hot you just throw him there and it continues.' We play with it all the time."

Weekend watch:

Four former standout White Sox players, Jack McDowell, Tim Raines, Roberto Hernandez and Lance Johnson, will be at U.S. Cellular Field this weekend to help celebrate the ballpark's 25-year anniversary.

McDowell is the last Sox starter to win the Cy Young Award (1993). Raines played for the White Sox from 1991-95 and should be inducted into the Hall of Fame next year.

Hernandez is third on the Sox's all-time list with 161 saves, and Johnson ranks fourth with 226 stolen bases and eighth with 77 triples.

Scouting report

Kansas City Royals vs. White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Saturday; WGN Sunday

Radio: WLS 890-AM

Pitching matchups: The Sox's Jose Quintana (5-2) vs. Dillon Gee (0-1) today at 7:10 p.m.; Miguel Gonzalez (0-0) vs. Danny Duffy (0-0) Saturday at 1:10 p.m.; Carlos Rodon (1-4) vs. Yordano Ventura (4-2) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.

At a glance: The White Sox and Royals meet for the first time this season. The Sox were 7-12 vs. Kansas City last year (4-6 at the Cell). Since 2011, the White Sox are 35-58 vs. the Royals. Heading into Thursday, Quintana led the American League with a 1.54 ERA. The left-hander is a career 1-6 (4.27 ERA) vs. Kansas City. The Royals, who have finished first in the AL Central the last two seasons and are the defending World Series champions, are off to a sluggish start at 20-20. K.C. ranks second to last in the league with 144 runs scored.

Next: Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field, Monday-Wednesday. Monday is a straight doubleheader

- Scot Gregor

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