Banuelos steers White Sox to third straight win
It's starting to look like Manny Banuelos is going to be a keeper in the White Sox's rotation.
"Banuelos is a guy that has feel for several pitches, he can throw to both sides of the plate," catcher James McCann said. "The big key for him is using all those pitches at anytime in the count, keeping hitters off balance."
A power pitcher as a top prospect with the Yankees before having Tommy John surgery in 2012, Banuelos has been throwing more sliders and sinkers than fastballs with the Sox this season.
Replacing Ervin Santana in the rotation, Banuelos made his second start for the White Sox in Monday night's 5-3 win over the Orioles at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Much like his start at Baltimore last week, the 28-year-old lefty kept his composure and kept his team in the game. "He's been a strike thrower," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He's actually been doing a nice job of keeping us in ballgames."
Banuelos pitched 5⅔ innings against the Orioles Monday and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks.
He worked out of a big jam in the fifth after Baltimore loaded the bases with the help errors by third baseman Yoan Moncada and second baseman Jose Rondon on the same play.
With two outs, Banuelos got Renato Nunez to fly out as the Orioles failed to score.
Yonder Alonso and Tim Anderson each hit 2-run homers, and the White Sox (12-14) won their third straight.
Giolito good to go?
The White Sox still haven't announced Wednesday's starter against the Orioles, but Lucas Giolito looks like a pretty safe bet.
Sidelined since straining his left hamstring in an April 17 start against the Royals, Giolito had another bullpen session on Monday and threw 50 pitches.
"I feel good," the right-hander said. "A higher workload than the last one. I sat down for five minutes, too, to see what it'd be like getting back up. Felt great, so I'm ready to go."
If the Sox decide Giolito needs a little more down time, Dylan Covey is the probable replacement.
On Monday, Covey was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte. The right-hander made 21 starts for the White Sox last season and was 4-12 with a 5.50 ERA.
Santana a free agent:
Designated for assignment Friday, veteran starting pitcher Ervin Santana has elected to become a free agent rather than report to Class AAA Charlotte.
According to the Sox, they are relieved of any further financial obligations to Santana, who would have made $4.3 million for the entire season. In 3 starts with the White Sox, Santana was 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA.
Minor matters:
Class AA Birmingham outfielder Micker Adolfo is on the injured list with right elbow soreness. Adolfo had Tommy John surgery last year.
Luis Robert should be promoted from high A Winston-Salem to Birmingham any day now. The outfielder was 3-for-5 with a home run and triple Monday night. For the season, the 21-year-old Robert is batting .440/.500/.907 with 8 home runs, 24 RBI and 8 stolen bases in 19 games.
After opening the season with 12 strikeouts over 9⅔ scoreless innings for Birmingham, reliever Matt Foster was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte.