The White Sox and Tigers will have to wait a little longer than planned. After Saturday’s game was moved up to dodge the weather, this one opened under a rain delay, and there was no start time announced.
Chicago made a roster move before the game, reinstating Huascar Brazobán from the injured list after his rehab assignment for a strained left lats. To make room, the Sox optioned Chris Murphy to Charlotte.
That move effectively ends Murphy’s season unless injury intervenes, since pitchers must wait 15 days before they can be recalled. The results haven’t been there lately, either.
His last three outings brought a bases-clearing double for Alec Burleson in St. Louis, two first-inning homers while working as an opener against Cleveland, and a two-out RBI double in his inning against Detroit on Friday.
Brazobán isn’t arriving with much margin for error. His ground-ball rate, strikeout rate and average exit velocity allowed all moved in the wrong direction after the trade from the Mets, and the slide started immediately. During his Triple-A rehab stint, though, he got grounders at a 50% clip, and the Sox will see whether that carries over now.
On the other side, Troy Melton’s season line still looks respectable at 2.52 ERA, but that number hides how rough things have been lately. He held a 1.46 ERA the last time he faced the White Sox, but Chicago tagged him for three runs in 4 ⅓ innings on Aug. 15, and he hasn’t been the same since. Over his last five starts, Melton has a 5.81 ERA and 5.76 FIP.
The White Sox lineup sends Sam Antonacci to left field, Kyle Teel behind the plate, Miguel Vargas at third, Munetaka Murakami at first, Andrew Benintendi at DH, Colson Montgomery at short, Chase Meidroth at second, Braden Montgomery in right and Brenton Doyle in center.
Detroit’s order starts with Kevin McGonigle at DH, followed by Gleyber Torres at second, Hao-Yu Lee at third, Riley Greene in left, Eduardo Valencia catching, Max Clark in center, Spencer Torkelson at first, Brett Callahan in right and John Peck at short.
Davis Martin is slated to start for the White Sox, with Melton going for the Tigers. The game will be shown on CHSN.
In Other News...
White Sox Affiliate Offers Late Reminder The System Still Has Life
The White Sox may still be focused on the big-league picture, but Charlotte offered a useful reminder that the organization has some depth worth watching. The Knights beat Norfolk 10-6 on Wednesday to grab their second win of the series, and the offense kept the pressure on from the start with 12 hits and five extra-base hits. Mario Camilletti paced the lineup with four RBIs, while Tyler Gilbert handled three innings on the mound as part of a staff effort that gave up six runs but still kept the game in control.
For a system that has spent plenty of time under a microscope, nights like this matter because they show more than one prospect or one arm can carry a club. Pierce George picked up his first Triple-A win, a small milestone that fits into a larger picture of a farm team trying to stack competitive performances. The series still has another layer to it, but Charlotte at least gave the White Sox a reminder that some of the group beneath the majors is still pushing in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Just Sent A Clear Message About Murakamis Future
Munetaka Murakamis first season in Chicago has not changed the White Soxs long-term view of him, but it has slowed the timetable. The club remains interested in keeping the slugger beyond his current deal, and general manager Chris Getz has openly acknowledged that conversations about an extension are ongoing, yet the Sox are not rushing to lock anything in while Murakami works through a slump.
Murakami is already under contract through 2027 after signing a two-year deal before the season, which gives both sides some breathing room. For now, Chicago appears content to let the bat settle first and revisit the bigger-picture contract discussion later, a clear sign that the front office likes the fit but is willing to wait for better performance before making a long-term commitment. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Suddenly Have A Pitch-Calling Tension They Can't Ignore
The White Sox had every reason to feel good about Saturdays 3-1 win over Detroit, a game built on a much cleaner pitching performance than the one that came a night earlier. Still, the mood around the series shifted quickly after Fridays 11-8 loss, when Sean Newcomb voiced frustration about how his recent outings had gone and the pitch-calling decisions that came with them.
Kyle Teel pushed back on the criticism, defending the selections he made and underscoring a possible disconnect in the way the game plans are being executed. For a team trying to stabilize itself on the mound, the issue is bigger than one rough night or one pitchers reaction, because it hints at a larger need for sharper communication and trust between the mound and behind the plate. [Read more 🡒]