Albers, bullpen off to promising start for Chicago White Sox
One week is in the books, and the early read on the Chicago White Sox is promising.
Unlike last season, newcomers Todd Frazier, Jimmy Rollins, Mat Latos, Austin Jackson, Brett Lawrie, Alex Avila and Dioner Navarro have blended in quickly and contributed to the Sox's 5-2 start.
The rotation, minus No. 5 starter John Danks, has been solid.
The bullpen has been the White Sox's strength in the early going. Relief pitchers rarely get any ink, unless they're not performing.
Sox relievers have issued 7 walks in 18⅓ innings, but everything else has been positive. Heading into Tuesday - an off day for the White Sox - the bullpen ranked second in the American League with a .159 batting average against and third with a 1.47 ERA.
It's been a group effort, but the more Matt Albers pitches, the more he stands out. At first glance, Albers is an unathletic looking 6-foot-1, 225-pounder, but don't be fooled.
"It just matters that he gets people out," manager Robin Ventura said. "The mindset of going out and being able to throw pitches when he needs to is the biggest thing. It has nothing to do with who can run the 40 the fastest. He does a great job of holding runners, throwing strikes, throwing something that looks good to hit but not really. That's the biggest thing."
In Monday's 4-1 win over the Twins at Target Field, Albers pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Dating back to last season, the right-hander has not allowed a run in 26⅓ innings, a streak that started on Aug. 5.
"Coming into the spring, I just kind of wanted to fine-tune everything," Albers said. "Keep pretty much the same what I was doing. I'm just trying to keep consistent."
Albers, who in January rejoined the Sox on a one-year, $2.25 million contract with a $3 million option for 2017, missed three months last season with a broken right pinkie finger suffered in an April brawl against the Royals.
"He got his pitch back," White Sox ace Chris Sale said after Albers bailed him out with 2 scoreless innings against the Indians Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field. "He looks as good as I've ever seen him. His two-seamer looks like a changeup coming in there at 95 or 96 mph. It's fun to watch."
In addition to the two-seam fastball, the 33-year-old Albers has been throwing his slider and straight change for strikes, and he's also been animated on the mound.
"It's fun being part of the game, in games you win," Albers said. "You just kind of get pumped up."