Rain in Chicago; Pena in Tampa Bay lineup

CHICAGO - The tarp is currently on U.S. Cellular Field and the start of today's Game 3 between Tampa Bay and Chicago is definitely in jeopardy with rain falling and expected to stay in the area for the next couple of hours.

One bit of good news for the Rays, who can sweep and eliminate the White Sox with a win is the blurred vision (in his left eye) that has kept Tampa Bay first baseman Carlos Pena out of the lineup for most of the first two games of the American League Division Series vs. Chicago, has subsided and he's in today's lineup weather-permitting.

"He was doing fine yesterday," said Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon. "During BP (today) he was good. Taking ground balls, he was good. So right now I fully well expect not to have to change the line-up."

Pena's return would be huge for clean-up hitter Evan Longoria, who has excelled even with Pena departing Game 1 after two innings and missing all of Game 2.

"He (Pena) does a lot for the guy in front of him and the guy behind him," said Longoria. "Just as far as the pitches we get, and the way that everybody throughout the line-up is pitched. So he is a huge lift in our lineup. And not only that, but at first base. He's been great for us all year there."

The White Sox face the same fate as their North side counterparts, the Cubs, with a loss. Elimination.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, asked whether he's had fun this year said, "Tough season for me. Real tough. I think tougher than 2007 when we was real bad. I think we have so many things to do day-to-day. So many problems on the field and off. A lot of injuries. I mean, fight all the way through it. It wasn't easy. But you learn from that situation and you are excited about it because I'm here. I feel proud the way our team handled the problems we had on and off the field. I want to see my picture- my face- to see how much I've aged."

Another strange answer.

Guillen was asked whether the Rays were the best team he's seen this year in the AL.

"I think the best team I saw in spring training was the Seattle Mariners. Just look at that team in spring training and wow! Good ballclub."

But now? The Rays?

"I think as a team they have a lot of weapons to beat you with speed, defense, stealing some runs and bunting. A couple of guys on that team can hit it out of the ballpark. Best team in the American League? You know, topping my mind you will be the best team in the American League when you play in the World Series against the National League."

Here are today's lineups:

Tampa Bay Rays
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carlos Pena, 1B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carl Crawford, LF
6. Willy Aybar, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Rocco Baldelli, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS
SP Matt Garza

Chicago White Sox
1. Orlando Cabrera, SS
2. A.J.Pierzynski, C
3. Jermaine Dye, RF
4. Jim Thome, DH
5. Paul Konerko, 1B
6. Ken Griffey Jr., CF
7. Alexei Ramirez, 2B
8.Dewayne Wise, LF
9. Juan Uribe, 3B
SP John Danks