Giolito wild again in Chicago White Sox's loss to Cleveland
Carlos Rodon is back in the White Sox's starting rotation after missing the first third of the season recovering from shoulder surgery.
With impressive showings in three of his last four outings, Dylan Covey is trying to stake his claim, and pitching prospect Michael Kopech should be in the starting five at some point in July.
After that, Dane Dunning, Alec Hansen, Dylan Cease and Spencer Adams represent the next wave of potential Sox starters.
For now, Lucas Giolito is in the rotation. But as the White Sox showed with Carson Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft, they will demote starting pitchers who consistently fail to throw strikes.
Giolito is swimming in those treacherous waters, but he is still afloat.
"I'm very confident in myself as a pitcher," Giolito said after the Sox lost to the Indians 4-0 Monday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. "I'm confident in my stuff. I know if I throw the ball over the plate, command stuff, I'm going to get a lot of guys out."
Giolito showed he's capable of pitching for the Sox late last season when he was 3-2 with a 1.83 ERA over his final 6 starts. The 23-year-old righty has 5 quality starts this year, but a lack of command hurt Giolito again in the loss to Cleveland.
Giolito (4-7, 7.09 ERA) got the first two outs in the fourth inning of a scoreless game, but back-to-back walks to Yonder Alonso and Melky Cabrera proved costly.
Both runners scored and the Indians went on to defeat the White Sox for the 10th time in 11 games dating to last season. In 66 innings this year, Giolito has issued 43 walks.
"I just have to do a better job of staying within myself and letting my talent play out there," he said. "I'm beating myself, 100 percent. I'm going out there and walking a bunch of guys. I'm not going to have success that way."
Status quo:
General manager Rick Hahn has been asked since the beginning of May about when Class AAA Charlotte starting pitcher Michael Kopech and AA Birmingham outfielder Eloy Jimenez are going to join the White Sox, and that was the case again Monday.
Hahn has been consistent with his reply - he's not sure.
"It's going to be based strictly upon their own development and when they are ready for the next challenges presented by the big-league level," Hahn said. "Eventually, they will tend to force that issue. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Eloy is going to stop in Charlotte.
"So those thinking his next stop is Chicago haven't been paying attention to what the developmental plan is for him.
"Kopech, he's put together a few real good starts and had others that still show you the elements he needs improvement in. But he's certainly getting closer."
Perfect pick:
Just over two weeks before the draft, Sox GM Rick Hahn traveled to Southern California to get a firsthand look at Nick Madrigal.
Suffice to say, Hahn was thrilled when the Sox used the No. 4 overall pick in last week's draft to select the Oregon State star.
"Very well-rounded baseball player," Hahn said. "Tremendous feel for the barrel. Does the little things well. Saw it the other day in the (NCAA) super regional, hitting behind the runner, pulling off the hit-and-run.
"Plus speed, defensively ability with very strong chance to be a premium defender up the middle, an important cog at the top of the lineup.
"It becomes a scouting cliché, but we want well-rounded baseball players, guys with the ability to beat you both offensively and defensively, and ability to beat you with their speed. Nick fits right into that mold."