The way the rotation is set up, I think I would start Liriano tonight.

Think about it like this: Liriano can go tonight on three days rest or against the Royals fully rested.  If he goes fully rested against the Royals, that means he could conceivably go on short rest in a one game playoff next Tuesday against the Sox.  In my mind, either way, he has to face the White Sox on short rest.

So why not guarantee that he faces the White Sox.  After tonight, there is no guarantee what will happen and if he will get the chance to face them again.  I say go with your best guy when the season is on the line, which is tonight.

That way, if we do have to go to Chicago for a one game playoff, then Liriano will be fully rested for that one, too.  So the Sox would have to face Liriano twice in order to get by us--or at the very least once.  If Slowey goes tonight, that means he faces KC on Friday, Perkins goes Saturday, and Baker on Sunday.

Slowey has much better stats against KC than he does Chicago.

Any opinions on why we should NOT do this?  I think it is a no-brainer ulness there is something I am not thinking of.