Chicago White Sox's bullpen struggling with heavy workload
To Chris Sale — and to the schedule-maker who made Thursday an off-day — the Chicago White Sox's bullpen extends heartfelt thanks.
Before Sale shook off a rocky third and logged 7 innings in Wednesday's 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field — and before Thursday's needed break in the schedule — the Sox's bullpen was in a state of near collapse due to a severe case of overuse.
Naturally, Robin Ventura received the brunt of the blame for the flurry of mound visits and pitching changes, but the White Sox's beleaguered manager was put in a tough spot by starting pitchers James Shields, Miguel Gonzalez, Carlos Rodon, and even Sale and Jose Quintana at the top of the rotation.
In his first 2 starts for the Sox after being acquired in a June 4 trade from San Diego, Shields pitched 7 innings. Total.
Gonzalez showed steady improvement before being banged around by the Tigers on Tuesday while lasting just 3⅓ innings. In 8 starts for the White Sox since being claimed off waivers from Baltimore in early April, Gonzalez has pitched into the seventh inning just once.
Rodon has made 12 starts for the Sox and pitched 6 innings or fewer six times.
Add in some shorter recent outings from Sale and Quintana, recall how Mat Latos consistently failed to go deep into games before being designated for assignment last week (and officially released a week ago), and you can sense a very serious problem.
“The guys are a little bit taxed,” general manager Rick Hahn said last week.
Before Sale stepped up and pitched 7 innings Wednesday, the White Sox's bullpen logged 34⅓ innings over an eight-game stretch.
The Sox have played 13 games in June, and Zach Duke and Dan Jennings each have made 7 appearances. Closer David Robertson, Nate Jones and Matt Albers have pitched in 6 games.
For the season, Duke was tied for the American League lead with 35 games pitched heading into Thursday. Albers (30) and Jones (29) were close behind.
Wary of completely blowing out his bullpen, Ventura recently went with Tyler Danish, a starting pitcher at Class AA Birmingham before being optioned back to the minors, in three straight tight games.
Ventura also has called on two more unproven bullpen arms, Michael Ynoa and Matt Purke, because they are on the current 25-man roster.
“You can't pitch the same guys every single day,” Ventura said. “You're going to have to find a spot for them to be able to get in there. You have to find a way to relieve some guys from pitching every day and get guys in there.”
If the starters, particularly Shields, Rodon and Gonzalez, can pitch longer, the bullpen should be able to catch its collective breath and perform more like it did in April when Sox relievers were 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA.
If the starters can't pitch longer, look for Hahn to scour the trade market and waiver wires looking for more bullpen help.
White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Fridayday and Saturday; WGN Sunday
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Pitching matchups: The White Sox's Jose Quintana (5-7) vs. Trevor Bauer (4-2) Friday at 6:10 p.m.; James Shields (2-8) vs. Danny Salazar (7-3) Saturday at 5:10 p.m.; Carlos Rodon (2-6) vs. Carlos Carrasco (2-2) Sunday at 12:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox are 2-4 vs. Cleveland this season. The Sox enter the series after winning two of three against the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field. The Indians were swept in a three-game series at Kansas City. Quintana has received only 4 total runs in his last 6 starts and is 0-6 with a 4.15 ERA over the stretch. Since Tim Anderson moved to the leadoff spot and Adam Eaton dropped to the No. 2 hole Monday, the duo is 14-for-30 with 8 runs scored. Cleveland starters rank fourth in the American League with a 3.98 ERA; Sox starters are fifth at 4.19.
Next: Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Monday-Thursday
— Scot Gregor