Sox will use Noesi as ninth starter so far
Through the first 28 games of the season, the White Sox have already used eight different starting pitchers.
On Thursday, Hector Noesi will be No. 9.
Claimed off waivers from the Rangers Friday despite having a 14.21 ERA, Noesi gets the ball against the Tigers because the Sox are currently carrying only four healthy starters - Jose Quintana, John Danks, Scott Carroll and Andre Rienzo.
Noesi, who pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief in his White Sox debut Saturday, last started in 2012 when he was with Seattle.
"I haven't started for a long time, but I'm ready," Noesi said. "I mean, I was a starter in the Dominican, like in winter ball, so I'm good."
Considering he's only pitched a combined 7.2 innings with Texas and the White Sox this season, don't expect Noesi to throw a complete game against Detroit.
"Knowing that he hasn't thrown a lot, you are not going to have him out there for seven innings," manager Robin Ventura said. "Hopefully you get five and see what happens after that. I would say five is an optimistic look."
Sale in limbo:
Chris Sale is declining to speak to the media until he throws off the mound, which could be Wednesday or on Thursday's off day, manager Robin Ventura said.
When Sale (flexor muscle strain) is coming off the disabled list remains a mystery, but it's not likely to be this weekend as initially hoped when the Sox are in Cleveland.
"It's slim at the best," manager Robin Ventura said. "Again, he'll throw and we'll see how he does. He's going to be the best judge of that. We can sit here and make all the plans we want, but until he throws and feels 100 percent, he can go out there and nothing is going to jump back on him, then he would throw."
More Abreu love:
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon heaped some heavy praise on Jose Abreu during a four-game series against the White Sox that wrapped up Monday night.
On Tuesday, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus also complimented the Sox' new slugger. When the White Sox were in Detroit last week, Abreu twice homered to center at spacious Comerica Park.
"There's not a lot of people who are going to reach those bushes in center field," Ausmus said. "He did twice in a series. He's obviously a strong human."
Work in progress:
The worst fielding team in baseball last year, the Sox have been good, but not great, over the first month of the new season.
Heading into Tuesday's play, the White Sox ranked 11th in the American League with 20 errors in 27 games.
"It's better," manager Robin Ventura said. "You are always going to have errors here and there that just happen. I think we have played better, obviously better than we did last year. I think guys are feeling the sense that they can play good defense and that they want the ball hit to them."