September 23—Oakland Athletics right-hander, Chris Bassitt will start today in the four-game series finale against the Mariners, in his first appearance since taking a scary, hard-hit blow to the face off the bat of Brian Goodwin on August 17 at Guaranteed Rate field. Bassitt underwent successful facial surgery to microplate a tripod fracture and to debride (i.e., remove damaged tissue from) other small fracture sites on August 24th at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. “I don’t need my face to pitch,” said Bassitt when he resumed throwing on September 10th. The healing process will continue for months, and there may be some lasting effects from nerve damage sustained in the injury.
September 7—Outfielder Adam Engel has been assigned to rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA). Engel has been on the IL since August 16 with left shoulder inflammation.
W, 6-3, 80-58 (.580), W1 | WP: Jimmy Lambert (1-1, 6.23) | S: Liam Hendriks (33) | Game 138
➤ Yoán Moncada goes 3-for-5, extending his hitting streak to 19 consecutive games.
➤ Possible Injury—Eloy Jiménez takes a foul ball to the knee.
DEFENSE: In his sixth MLB appearance (2 in 2020), starter Jimmy Lambert earns his first major league win, giving up 1 R/ER on 3 H (2 BB, 2 SO) in 5.0 IP. Lambert was to be the first leg of a bullpen game, but gets himself into the zone in the 3rd, retiring all but one batter in his last three innings. Garrett Crochet goes 1-2-3 (0 SO) in the 6th. Ryan Tepera throws BB, K, GO double play in the 7th. It takes both Ryan Burr (2 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 0 SO in ⅓ IP) and Craig Kimbrel (1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO in ⅔ IP)to get out of the 8th. Liam Hendriks goes 1-2-3 (1 SO) in the 9th. OFFENSE: With one out in the 1st, Yasmani Grandal run-scoring BB scores Luis Robert (singled, advanced to 3B on Yoán Moncada double), and 3 are left stranded. In the 5th, Gavin Sheets RBI 1B scores Eloy Jiménez (singled, advanced to 2B on Yasmani Grandal single), César Hernández 2-run 1B scores Yasmani Grandal (singled, advanced to 2B on Gavin Sheets single, advanced to 3B on Leury Garcia single) and Gavin Sheets. Brian Goodwin 2-run 1B scores Yoán Moncada (doubled, advanced to 3B on wild pitch) and José Abreu (walked, advanced to 2B on wild pitch) in the 8th.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Eloy Jiménez Day to Day
MLB Advanced Media, LP
September 8—Eloy Jiménez suffered a right knee contusion last night when struck by an errant foul ball. He remains on the active roster.
Keuchel
Montas
8-8, 5.22, 84 | 11-9, 3.68, 174
Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at 8:40 pm CDT Oakland Coliseum Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Athletics / Frankie Montas, RHP
➤ Yoán Moncada goes 0-for-3, ending his hitting streak at 19 as of (9/7).
DEFENSE: Dallas Keuchel gives up 5 R/ER on 8 H (1 BB, 3 SO) in 5⅔ IP. José Ruiz retires 4 of 5 A’s (1 SO) and Mike Wright, Jr. retires 3 of 4. OFFENSE: In the 5th, César Hernández reaches on a FC, as Leury García (doubled, advanced to 3B on Brian Goodwin single) scores the only run on an E3. Athletics starter Frankie Montas deals to win, striking out 7 White Sox (2 BB) through 7.0 IP.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
López
Manaea
3-1, 2.08, 38 | 8-9, 3.91, 165
Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 2:37 pm CDT Oakland Coliseum Reynaldo López, RHP vs. Athletics / Sean Manaea, LHP
DEFENSE: Reynaldo López is solid through 5.0 IP, giving up 3 R (1 ER) on 6 H (3 BB, 2 SO), but makes a fateful throwing error in the 3rd that costs him the game. A wild pickoff attempt allows Sterling Marte to score from 2B (Marte had stolen 2B). Matt Olson advances to 3B on the error, then scores on a sac fly, making it 2-1 A’s. Ryan Burr, Aaron Bummer and Ryan Tepera each pitch a hitless inning with 0 BB and 2 SO. OFFENSE: José Abreu RBI 1B brings in César Hernández (doubled), in the 3rd. Athletics starter Sean Manaea strikes out 9 White Sox, issuing just 1 BB, through 7.0 IP.Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
September 10—Lance Lynn activated from IL
Three-Game Series vs. Boston Red Sox
White Sox win series 2-1
Rodón
Houck
11-5, 2.41, 168 | 0-3, 3.26, 62
Friday, September 10, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Carlos Rodón, LHP vs. Red Sox / Tanner Houck, RHP
W, 4-3, 81-60 (.574), W1 | WP: Carlos Rodón (12-5, 2.38) | S: Liam Hendriks (34) | Game 141
DEFENSE: Carlos Rodón delivers again, allowing 1 R/ER on 3 H (0 BB, 7 SO) on 5.0 IP. In the 6th, Michael Kopech strikes out 2, then BB, 1B, before Aaron Bummer steps in to make the last out. In the 7th, Ryan Tepera goes 3B, RBI GO, 1B (SB on WP), RBI 1B, FC, before Garrett Crochet steps in to make the last out. It’s 4-3 Sox. Craig Kimbrel pitches a hitless 8th (1 BB, 2 SO), and Liam Hendriks pitches a scoreless 9th (1H, 0 BB, 0 SO) for the save. OFFENSE: José Abreu 3-run HR (29), on an 0-2 count, scores César Hernández (walked) and Yoán Moncada (singled), in the 3rd. Luis Robert RBI 1B scores Gavin Sheets (reached on E4), in the 4th. Red Sox starter Tanner Houck is out after 3⅔, after giving up the 4 runs (3 BB, 1 SO). The Red Sox bullpen strike out 6. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Cease
Seabold
11-7, 3.87, 197 | 0-0
Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 6:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field – Sox Crawl Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Red Sox / Connor Seabold, RHP
L, 9-8, 81-61 (.570), L1 | LP: Mike Wright, Jr. (0-1, 3.86) | Game 142
Game highlights from mlb.com
Lynn
Pivetta
10-4, 2.59, 152 | 9-7, 4.67, 151
Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Red Sox / Nick Pivetta, RHP
August 16—Outfielder Adam Engel has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 13, with left shoulder inflammation, following the Field of Dreams Game on August 12.
August 16—Zack Burdi, RHP designated for assignment (CLAIMED BY ORIOLES ON 8/18)
Four-Game Series vs. Oakland Athletics
White Sox win series 3-1
Keuchel
Montas
7-6, 4.51, 77 | 9-8, 3.98, 146
Monday, August 16, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Athletics / Frankie Montas, RHP
DEFENSE: Dallas Keuchel faces 22 A’s in 5.0 IP, giving up 2 R/ER on 5 H (1 HBP, 2 BB, 2 SO). After giving up a HR with one out in the 2nd, Keuchel loads the bases with A’s on a HBP and 2 BB, but manages to contain the damage to just one more run. Michael Kopech throttles up the velocity to retire 6 of 7 (1 BB, 3 SO—all Ks) in the 6th and 7th. After striking out the lead-off batter, in the 8th, Craig Kimbrel gets himself into a jam—2 RISP on a HBP and a close-call, ground-rule 2B, with one out—then strikes out two more to end the inning. Liam Hendriks closes with three swinging strikeouts, for the save (27). That’s a total of 9 SO from the bullpen. OFFENSE: The Athletics score their only two runs in the 2nd, and the White Sox peck away at their lead. César Hernández sac fly brings in Seby Zavala (singled, advanced to 3B on Tim Anderson 1B), in the 3rd. Seby Zavala RBI 1B scores Luis Robert (singled, advanced to 2B on Brian Goodwin BB), in the 4th. Eloy Jiménez RBI 1B brings in Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on César Hernández soft bunt 1B), in the 5th. Seby Zavala sac bunt (safety squeeze) brings in Luis Robert (singled, stole 2B, advanced to 3B on Brian Goodwin GO), in the 6th. Luis Robert solo HR in the 8th. This is how “manufacturing runs” is supposed to work. Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
Yasmani Grandal Rehab Progress
MLB Advanced Media, LP
August 17—Catcher Yasmani Grandal will continue rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA), moving up from Birmingham Barons (AA). Grandal has been on the IL since July 6, with a torn tendon in the left knee.
López
Bassitt
1-0, 1.35, 22 | 12-3, 3.06, 153
Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Reynaldo López, RHP vs. Athletics / Chris Bassitt, RHP
DEFENSE: Appearing in his second start of the season, Reynaldo López allows just 1 H (2 BB, 4 SO) on 5.0 IP, earning his second win. Ryan Burr allows 2 H (0 BB, 1 SO) in the 6th and 7th. Mike Wright, Jr. (called up yesterday) faces 7 A’s in the 8th and 9th, to complete the shutout (1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO). OFFENSE: The White Sox take an early lead in the 2nd, under unfortunate circumstances. Athletics starter, Chris Bassitt takes a 100.1-MPH comebacker in the face, as Brian Goodwin reaches for a single. Andrew Vaughn 2-run 1B brings in Eloy Jiménez (singled) and Yoán Moncada (singled, advanced to 2B on Brian Goodwin 1B). Jake Lamb–DH 3-run HR (6) scores Brian Goodwin (singled) and Andrew Vaughan (singled). José Abreu 3-run HR (25) brings in Jake Lamb–DH (walked) and César Hernández (singled), in the 4th. Tim Anderson 3B, in the 6th, scores Zack Collins (walked).Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
Chris Bassitt comebacker
➤ The Athletics later report that Chris Bassitt “is conscious and aware, and is on his way to the hospital.” Heading into the game, Bassitt led the AL in wins, with a record of 12-3. He began his major league career with the White Sox in 2014.
Lynn
Irvin
10-3, 2.26, 137 | 8-11, 3.52, 96
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Athletics / Cole Irvin, LHP
A tense evening at Sox Park, in which the threat of either team breaking the game open hangs in the air throughout. DEFENSE: Lance Lynn labors more than he usually has to. He faces 2 RISP with no outs in the 1st, on a lead-off BB, a 1B, and 2 SB, then retires three in a row (2 SO—both Ks). He opens the 2nd with another lead-off BB, then retires the next three (0 SO). He faces bases loaded with no outs in the 3rd, on a lead-off 2B, an E5 (Tim Anderson), and a BB. In a remarkable feat of athleticism, Lynn dodges the bullet, striking out #4–DH and #5 in the A’s lineup (both Ks) and retiring #6 on a pop out. He gives up a solo HR, but retires the other three of four batters he faces, in the 4th. At the end of 4, Lynn gets himself ejected—for behavior that the 3B umpire evidently deemed unsportsmanlike—during a routine inspection for sticky stuff. Lynn’s line: 3 H, 1 R/ER, 3 BB, 4 SO on 4.0 IP. Garrett Crochet takes the mound in the 5th, pitching a scoreless 1⅔ (1 H, 1 BB, 0 SO). Garrett Crochet steps in to make the last out (K) in the 6th, before giving up a lead-off 3B to Elvis Andrus, who scores on a sac fly, in the 7th. With one out and a man on, Aaron Bummer finishes the inning with a K, a BB, and a GO. In the 8th, Bummer goes GO, 1B, 1B, before Liam Hendriks takes over, with one out and two on. Hendriks retires the next two to end the 8th, then throws three consecutive Ks in the 9th, for the 5-out save (28). Earlier in the day, Hendriks publicly credits his wife for fixing his recent pitch tipping problem. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez RBI 2B, in the 1st, brings in César Hernández (singled on a bunt). Luis Robert RBI 1B scores Yoán Moncada (walked, advanced to 2B on Brian Goodwin BB), in the 4th. Robert rinses and repeats in the 6th, knocking in Moncada (singled, advanced to 2B on Goodwin BB) for the White Sox third run.Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
Chris Bassitt update from A’s manager Bob Melvin:
Cease
Kaprielian
9-6, 4.04, 165 | 6-4, 3.33, 83
Thursday, August 19, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Athletics / James Kaprielian, RHP
L, 5-4, 71-51 (.582), L1 | LP: Michael Kopech (3-2, 2.74) | Game 122
DEFENSE: Dylan Cease starts out strong, going 1-2-3 in the 1st and 2nd, then waivers a bit, but comes through with a quality start—3 R/ER on 4 H (4 BB, 5 SO) on 6.0 IP. Cease’s outing ends in a no decision, with the score tied at 3. Michael Kopeck gives up a 2-run HR, in the 7th (0 BB, 1 SO–K). In the 8th, Ryan Burr throws back-to-back Ks, followed by back-to-back BBs, before ending the inning on a groudout. José Ruiz issues a BB and records three groundouts, in the 9th. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez RBI 2B scores Luis Robert (singled, advanced to 2B on José Abreu BB), in the 1st inning, which ends with the bases loaded. Andrew Vaughn 2-run HR (15) scores Eloy Jiménez (walked), in the 5th. José Abreu reaches on E5, scoring Zack Collins (singled), in the 9th. In the 4th, the White Sox again load the bases (Joán Moncada 1B, Danny Mendick 1B, Zack Collins BB—all with two outs), but leave them stranded. Sox go down 1-2-3 in the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th. They get three outs and a BB in the 8th.Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
W, 7-5, 72-51 (.585), W1 | WP: Liam Hendriks (8-3, 3.19) | S: Ryan Tepera (2) | Game 123
➤ Tim Anderson goes 3-for-6. He has knocked a base hit in 10 consecutive games.
➤ Despite having the best record in the AL, the Rays have been drawing attendance of just 8,000, on average.
DEFENSE: With the Rays coming off a 4-game sweep of the Orioles, Lucas Giolito gives up just 2 R/ER on 3 H (0 BB, 8 SO) on 7.0 IP. In the 8th, Craig Kimbrel goes BB, LO, K on ⅔ IP. Aaron Bummer then issues a BB, allows a 1B that scores the inherited runner, intentionally walks Nelson Cruz, and gives up a 2-run 1B, before making the third out (GO). Garrett Crochet throws a hitless 9th (1 BB, 2 SO–both Ks). Liam Hendriks goes 1-2-3, in the 10th (1 SO). Ryan Tepera goes 1-2-3, in the 11th, on a GO and 2 Ks. OFFENSE: Michael Wacha (9 SO) and the Rays bullpen strike out 16 Sox, in total. Luis Robert RBI 2B scores Tim Anderson (reached on E4), in the 1st. In a productive 5th, José Abreu RBI FC scores Tim Anderson (singled, advanced to 2B on PB, advanced to 3B on Luis Robert GO), and Yoán Moncada 2-run HR (11) brings in José Abreu. Tim Anderson lead-off, solo HR, in the 9th, ties the game at 4—talk about a flare for the dramatic! But Sox leave two stranded, sending the game into extra innings. In the 11th, Tim Anderson 1B brings in the automatic runner, and José Abreu RBI GO scores Anderson (advanced to 2B on Rays attempt to put out automatic runner at home, advanced to 3B on PB).Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
Keuchel
Patiño
8-6, 4.48, 79 | 2-3, 4.73, 48
Saturday, August 21, 2021 at 12:10 pm CDT Tropicana Field Dallas Keuchel, LHP vs. Rays / Luis Patiño, RHP
➤ Eloy Jiménez–DH goes 1-for-4. He has knocked a base hit in 10 consecutive games.
➤ Tim Anderson is not in today’s lineup.
DEFENSE: The Rays offense is at their best today. Starting with an RBI 2B, followed by a 2-RBI 2B in the 1st, Dallas Keuchel has a tough outing—6 R/ER on 9 H, 2 BB, 3 SO on 5.0 IP. Mike Wright, Jr. goes 1-2-3 in the 6th, then FO, BB/CS, FO in the 7th. In the 8th, Wright gives up back-to-back 2Bs (both score), before José Ruiz steps in to make the last two outs (1 SO). OFFENSE: Seby Zavaya solo HR (5), in the 3rd. Eloy Jiménez–DH RBI 1B scores José Abreu (doubled), in the 6th. José Abreu sac fly brings in César Hernández (singled, advanced to 3B on Brian Goodwin 2B), and Eloy Jiménez–DH RBI GO scores Brian Goodwin (advanced to 3B on Abreu sac fly), in the 8th. José Abreu’s sac fly lands him in 7th place in career RBIs in franchise history (one more than Carlton Fisk). Abreu leads the MLB in RBIs (92) this season.Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
Billy Hamilton to Rehab
MLB Advanced Media, LP
August 21—Outfielder Billy Hamilton has been assigned to rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA). Hamilton has been on the IL since August 1, with a right oblique strain.
López
Archer
2-0, 1.08, 26 | 0-1, 6.23, 6
Sunday, August 22, 2021 at 11:10 pm CDT Tropicana Field Reynaldo López, RHP vs. Rays / Chris Archer, RHP
➤ Eloy Jiménez goes 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games.
➤ Tim Anderson is not in today’s lineup.
DEFENSE: Reynaldo López gives up 3 R/ER on 6 H, 0 BB, 4 SO on 4.0 IP. He goes 1-2-3 in the 2nd and the 4th. Garrett Crochet gives up 3 R/ER more on 1 H, 2 BB, 2 SO on 1⅔ IP. José Ruiz gives up 2 R/ER more on 2 H, 2 BB, 2 SO on 1⅓ IP. Ruiz balks in the 7th, scoring the runner on 3B (who he had walked, then advanced to 2B on walk #2). Ryan Burr gives up the last R/ER on 3 H, 0 BB, 0 SO, in the 8th. Fifteen of 22 runs scored by the Rays this series were scored with two outs. OFFENSE: Rays starter Chris Archer and reliever Shawn Armstrong strike out 8 Sox, allowing only 1 hit, through 4. Chris Mazza strikes out 2 more in the 5th and 6th. The scoreless Sox knock 7 H and draw 2 BB, against tough pitching, but can’t bring any home. Today is the second day of rest for Tim Anderson. The White Sox report that TA is experiencing “leg tightness.”Watch game highlights on mlb.com:
