Red Sox batter Banuelos, Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox's starting rotation entered Saturday night's game against the Red Sox with the highest ERA (6.40) in the major leagues.
Manny Banuelos managed to make the mark even worse (6.82) in a depressing 15-2 loss at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Looking comfortable and confident while retiring the first eight hitters he faced, Banuelos completely collapsed and Boston teed off.
Trying to save a battered White Sox bullpen that had to enlist second baseman Jose Rondon in relief Friday night, Banuelos gave up a staggering 10 straight hits with two outs in the third inning as the Red Sox erupted for 9 runs.
Banuelos had plenty of time to go back and look at video after giving 9 runs on 10 hits in 2⅔ innings.
"I saw some things," said Banuelos, who appeared to be tipping his pitches. "I have to fix it next time. It's the first time something like that's happened in my whole career. The first two innings were great.
"All my pitches, I was commanding the ball very well, and the third inning, the first two outs were great. I didn't get the chance to get the third out. It was just one of those days when things turn over like that quick."
The 28-year-old lefty should stay in the Sox's rotation since there are few other options, but relievers Carson Fulmer (6.97 ERA) and Jose Ruiz (5.40) were sent back to Class AAA Charlotte after Saturday's lopsided loss.
The White Sox's bullpen also has been shaky in the early going, but they have had to log heavy innings thanks to only 9 quality starts in 31 games.
"We've been trying to get our starters to give us a little length, but it didn't happen today," manager Rick Renteria said. "These guys have enough stuff to do it. It's just a matter of effectively getting through a ballgame."
Covey gets call:
On the injury list with left-elbow inflammation and potentially facing season-ending Tommy John surgery, Carlos Rodon is obviously not going to make Sunday's scheduled start Boston.
Dylan Covey takes his spot in the rotation.
Covey has spent most of this season with Class AAA Charlotte and is 0-1 with a 6.75 in 2 relief appearances with the White Sox. Last year, he was 5-14 with a 5.18 ERA in 27 games (21 starts) with the Sox.
"Obviously, you never want to hear something like the news that Carlos (Rodon) got," Covey said. "Keep him in my prayers. But I think the way that I had been throwing the ball and the way that I was throwing the ball in Charlotte, I think I would have had the opportunity no matter what happens.
"I feel good. I'm ready. I've just got to execute, follow the game plan and trust my stuff."
Hansen promoted:
The White Sox have an obvious need for pitching, and Alec Hansen is a name to watch moving forward.
In 2017, Hansen put himself on the radar while going a combined 11-8 with a 2.80 ERA in 26 starts with low Class A Kannapolis, high A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. The 6-foot-7 righty also led all minor-leaguers with 191 strikeouts.
Last year, a strained right forearm limited Hansen to 14 starts with Birmingham and Winston-Salem, and he was 0-5 with a 6.31 ERA.
Hansen opened this season in Winston-Salem's bullpen, but he was promoted to Birmingham Saturday after going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 12⅔ innings of relief.
As Hansen builds up innings, the Sox plan to eventually move him back to the starting rotation.
"He had a rough one last year and now has started off back on track," Rick Renteria said. "It's experience, it's time, they're growing but still not the end of their growth and development. Hopefully at some point, they're pushing and driving enough to put themselves on the map to be here and then that will be another process of growth and learning."