A-Rod Returns As The Yanks Play The White Sox

CHICAGO -- The circus has arrived in the Southside of Chicago!

Major League Baseball made the announcement at 3 pm EST that they have suspended Alex Rodriguez for 211-games. A-Rod will be eligible to play while he appeals, and he is in Chicago to make his long await return to the Yanks lineup as they open up a three-game series tonight with the White Sox.

As for the Yankees themselves, they are coming off a disappointing weekend in San Diego, losing two of three games against the Padres, a team under .500 and in 4th place in the NL West. Now they come into Chicago to play a team running through even rougher times, in the White Sox.

Tonight's Lineup, 8:10 EST @ US Cellular Field:

Gardner 8
Soriano DH
Cano 4
Rodriguez 5
Wells 3
Granderson 7
Suzuki 9
Nunez 6
Stewart 2
Pettitte 1

Pitching Preview:

Andy Pettitte began the season a 40-year-old wonder, putting up solid numbers while pitching in a way that someone his age should be pitching. But lately, he's started to fall of the agon as a 41-year-old dud, allowing four or more runs in six consecutive starts in June and July.

But since the skid, he's started to find his footing once again, just two runs in each of his past two starts, allowing eight hits over six innings against the Rangers on July 24th and eight hits over seven innings against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

"I was happy with the way [Pettitte] threw the ball," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday. "To give me seven innings, and only give up two runs against a lineup that's scoring a lot of runs, that's pretty good pitching."

The White Sox will counter with the first of their three scheduled lefty starters in this series, Jose Quintana, who's coming off a pretty successful month of July, in which he made six starts, going 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings.

Quintana's last start was in July, when he threw five innings of three-run ball in a no-decision against the Cleveland Indians.

Yankee Notes:

* Derek Jeter has been placed on the 15-day DL with his Grade 1 calf strain, putting him on the shelf for the third time this season. A-Rod is the likely move for him on the roster -- ironic, right?

* Brent Lillibridge has been designated for assignment by the Yankees, he has been replaced by David Adams, who has been called up from Triple-A Scranton.

* Yankees manager Joe Girardi will speak to the media at 6 pm EST, followed by A-Rod's press conference at 6:15 pm EST. Stay tuned here for updates on that.

Enjoy the craziness going down tonight, follow @GavinEwbank2013 on Twitter.