White Sox anxious to play Cubs at Wrigley with 'postseason in May' vibe
Even with Monday's win over the Angels, the White Sox are not playing great baseball and they've dropped 11 of their last 14 games.
The Cubs weren't expected to play even good baseball this year, and they haven't. With a 9-13 record, they're tied for third place in the NL Central.
It's still very early in the season and the Sox are confident they'll get back on a winning track. The Cubs also believe they can gain some traction.
On Tuesday night, the White Sox head over to Wrigley Field for a two-game interleague series vs. the Cubs. At the end of May, the Sox host the Cubs in a two-game set at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"The fans on both sides take it serious, so that makes it more fun," White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. "It's really fun to do, in my experience with it. Anytime you get fans excited, players get excited."
Both games at Wrigley start at 6:40 p.m. Michael Kopech (0-0, 1.42 ERA) gets the start for the Sox Tuesday against Drew Smyly (1-2, 2.79) and Lucas Giolito (0-1, 2.57) opposes Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 5.47) Wednesday.
The city rivals played six times last year and the White Sox were 5-1, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley.
"I know (Cubs) skipper (David) Ross, he's outstanding," La Russa said. (Bench coach) Andy Green, there are a lot of good people there. Looking forward to it. It's a big deal. Our guys are fired up and I know the Cubs guys are fired up.
"When you play 162 and you have four of them now that are going to have a special edge, you take it and you embrace it. It's like the postseason in May."
Vaughn update:
Andrew Vaughn is still day to day with a sore right hand, and he missed his third straight game with the injury on Monday.
In Friday night's loss to the Angels, Vaughn was hit by a pitch from reliever Mike Mayers.
"He's improved, but not big-league ready," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's still got discomfort when he swings, he's still sore. Improving, which is good, but not ready."
Roster reduction:
Major-league rosters had to be cut from 28 to 26 Monday, so the Sox optioned infielder Danny Mendick and left-handed relief pitcher Anderson Severino to Class AAA Charlotte.
In 10 games with the White Sox, Mendick hit .250 with 1 home run and 3 RBI.
"He knows his value to our club," manager Tony La Russa said. "It's just that if you looked at the options, there was nobody else that made sense. Like I talked to him when the game was over (Sunday), he'll be ready when we ask him to come back."
Severino made 6 appearances out of the bullpen and allowed 5 earned runs in 7⅓ innings.
Kelly update:
Joe Kelly made his first rehab appearance for Class AAA Charlotte Sunday and pitched 1 scoreless inning of relief.
On the injured list with a right biceps nerve issue, Kelly also had 1 strikeout in the debut.
Manager Tony La Russa said Kelly is "progressing well" and could join the Sox early next week. After going 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in 48 games with the Dodgers last season, the 33-year-old Kelly signed a two-year, $17 million contract with the White Sox in March.