Benintendi Scratched With Neck Stiffness, Grichuk Steps In for White Sox vs. Mariners

Andrew Benintendi is out of Saturday night's lineup for the White Sox against Seattle, scratched with neck stiffness before first pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field. As ESPN reported, manager Will Venable slotted Randal Grichuk into the DH role in Benintendi's place — a significant downgrade in the heart of an already thin Chicago offense.

Benintendi entered Saturday hitting .235 with two home runs and 17 RBIs across 36 games — modest numbers, but he's one of the few reliable bats in a White Sox lineup that ranks near the bottom of the AL in runs scored. Neck stiffness at 31 is the kind of nagging ailment that doesn't resolve itself in 24 hours, and the timing — a day game after a night game — raises legitimate questions about whether this is a multi-day absence. Grichuk provides veteran depth but has been a below-average offensive performer in recent seasons, offering little power upside and a mediocre on-base profile.

The broader injury picture in Chicago compounds the concern. Catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring) and outfielder Austin Hays (left calf strain) are both working their way back, with Venable noting that Teel is "the closest we've been" to a return but still needs to clear a Sunday workout before beginning a minor league rehab stint. Hays is a few days behind Teel in his recovery. The White Sox are essentially running a rotation of walking wounded through their lineup every night.

From a team total standpoint, tonight's number deserves a hard look at the under. The Mariners consistently suppress offense — Seattle's pitching staff ranks among the better run-prevention units in the AL — and they're now facing a White Sox lineup that just lost one of its most experienced hitters without a true like-for-like replacement. Grichuk in the DH spot is a net negative in expected run production. If the White Sox total is sitting at 3.5 or 4, the under carries real value tonight. The Mariners' side of the total looks stable; it's the Chicago half of the equation that's quietly eroding.

For player props, Benintendi's absence removes him from RBI and hits markets entirely, but the ripple effect on Grichuk is worth monitoring if books post a hits or total bases line for him. Grichuk in a short-side role against a quality Mariners arm is a fade candidate. The White Sox as a full team package — thin lineup, no depth, multiple regulars on IL — are trending toward low-scoring nights until Teel and Hays return to active duty.