(Short) Week of April 7-10, 2022

Photo credit: Getty Images

April 7—Seby Zavala (c) outrighted to Charlotte Knights. He will be missed!

Opening Day – April 7, 2022

➤ White Sox off

➤ Chicago Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, RHP throws first pitch of the season against Milwaukee Brewers at 1:20 pm CDT at Wrigley Field

➤ Cleveland Guardians defeated by Kansas City Royals at Kaufmann Stadium by a score of 1-3. Starter Shane Bieber, healthy as a horse, gives up 1 R/ER on 3 H (0 BB, 0 K) on 4 ⅔ IP. | WP: Scott Barlow | LP: Triston McKenzie

Three-Game Series at Detroit Tigers

Sox win series 2-1 | Season vs. Tigers 2-1


Game 1

Friday, April 8 at 12:10 pm CDT
Comerica Park – Tigers Home Opener
Lucas Giolito, RHP at
Tigers / Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP

L, 4-5, 0-1 (.000), L1 | LP: Liam Hendriks (0-1, 18.00, 2) | BS: Liam Hendriks (1)

➤ Possible injury: Lucas Giolito exits with abdominal tightness, after 4

DEFENSE: Starter Lucas Giolito leaves after 4.0 IP with the Sox up 3-0 (2 BB, 6 SO). In his major league debut, Bennett Sousa LHP pitches a 1-2-3 (0 SO) 5th. In his first game with the White Sox, Kyle Click RHP goes HBP, BB, FO, exiting with 2 on the 6th (⅓ IP). In his first game with the White Sox, Kendall Graveman RHP allows a base hit that scores Click‘s HBP runner, then ends the 6th with a 6-4-3 DP. Graveman throws a 1-2-3 (1 SO) 7th. Aaron Bummer goes SO, 1B, BB, 1B, SO in the 8th to load the bases (⅔ IP). Closer Liam Hendriks steps in, allowing a 1B that scores 2 of 3 inherited ERs, leaving runners on the corners. Next, he throws a HBP for good measure to load the bases again and, finally, ends the 8th with a force out at 3B. Hendriks returns in the 9th with the Sox up 4-3, but blows the save, giving up a HR to Eric Haase, and the walk-off RBI 1B to Javier Báez (line drive to AJ Pollock at 9 hits wall, Pollock plays it off as a catch, convincing the umps, Tigers challenge, call is overturned, Austin Meadows scores from 3B). OFFENSE: Batting at the top of the order, the newly-acquired AJ Pollock goes 3-for-5, tallying his first RBI (1B scores Jake Berger from 2B) and scoring his first run (on a Luis Robert 2B) for the White Sox in the 2nd. With the game tied at 3, Andrew Vaughn smashes a go-ahead HR (1) in the 9th. NOTABLE: The White Sox picked Bennett Sousa in the 10th round of the 2018 draft (#288 overall). Sousa participated in spring training in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The White Sox signed free agent Kyle Click to a minor league contract in July 2021, then signed him to a big-league contract yesterday. Click was drafted by the Giants in 2011, debuted in 2017, and traded to the Pirates in January 2018. The White Sox signed Kendall Graveman after last season. In his first game with the White Sox, veteran infielder Josh Harrison goes 0-for-4, playing 2B and batting 7th in the lineup. The White Sox signed Harrison as a free agent on March 15.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Lucas Giolito to Miss Starts

Lucas Giolito RHP 27
MLB Advanced Media, LP

April 9—Manager Tony La Russa says that Lucas Giolito will be placed on the IL shortly and will miss at least two starts. Righty Vince Velasquez will step into the starting rotation, and will pitch in the home opener on Tuesday.

Game 2

Saturday, April 9 at 12:10 pm CDT
Comerica Park
Dylan Cease, RHP at
Tigers / Casey Mize, RHP

W, 5-2, 1-1 (.500), W1 | WP: Dylan Cease (1-0, 1.80, 8) | SV: Aaron Bummer (1)

➤ Possible injury: AJ Pollock exits with hamstring tightness, in the 3rd. Pollock was already scheduled to go on paternity leave next week for the birth of his second child.

DEFENSE: Sporting a new stache, Dylan Cease gives up 1 R/ER on 2 H (3 BB, 8 SO) in 5.0 + 1 IP. After striking out four in a row in the 3rd and 4th, Cease issues 2 BB in the 5th, but fights his way out of the jam with K and LO, for the last two outs. Cease faces 1 batter in the 6th, allowing a 1B. Reynaldo López takes over with a man on, giving up 2 H and 1 BB, right out of the gate, then makes a stellar play at home for the first out. A 6-4-3 DP gets him out of the inning with Cease‘s ER scored and 1 ER of his own. Bennett Sousa replaces López after he BBs the first batter in the 7th. Sousa quickly retires the side with DP, FO, and returns in the 8th to SO the first batter (Austin Meadows) for his first career strikeout. José Ruiz finishes the inning with 1B, 4-6-3 DP. Aaron Bummer takes the mound in the 9th: 1B, 1B, K, K, K, for the save. OFFENSE: Eloy Jiménez 2-RBI 1B scores Luis Robert (singled) and José Abreu (doubled) in the 1st. Yasmani Grandal 2-run HR (1) scores José Abreu (singled) in the 6th. Andrew Vaughn RBI single scores Josh Harrison (doubled, advanced to 3B on Jake Berger sac bunt) in the 7th. NOTABLE: Josh Harrison gets his first hit—a lead-off 3B—for the White Sox in the 5th. Dylan Cease is 9-0 career against the Tigers.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

AJ Pollock possible injury:

Game 3

Sunday, April 10 at 12:10 pm CDT
Comerica Park
Michael Kopech, RHP at
Tigers / Tarik Skubal, LHP

W, 10-1, 2-1 (.667), W2 | WP: Kyle Crick (1-0, 6.75, 1)

DEFENSE: Looking to establish himself in the rotation this year, Michael Kopech gives up 1 R/ER on 2 H (2 BB, 3 SO) on 4.0 IP. He retires 7 in a row to end the outing. In the 2nd, new catcher, Reese McGuire fires one to 2B to catch Austin Meadows stealing. Kyle Crick (1 SO), Matt Foster and Kendall Graveman contribute a clean inning each in the 5th, 6th and 7th. And in his major league debut, lefty Tanner Banks faces 8 Tigers in the 8th and 9th, retiring 6 (4 SO) and walking 2—nice! OFFENSE: Fresh off his two-day suspension and back in the lead-off position, Tim Anderson knocks a 2B off his first pitch of the season. Luis Robert gets a base hit and steals 2B, giving the Sox 2 RISP after 6 pitches. José Abreu RBI 1B scores TA. Eloy Jiménez sac fly scores Robert. Sox are 3-for-3 on the season scoring in the 1st. José Abreu RBI 2B scores Luis Robert (grounded into a force out) and Josh Harrison RBI 1B scores Abreu in the 3rd. Danny Mendick RBI 2B to deep left scores Reese McGuire (reached on an error) in the 4th. Eloy Jiménez RBI 1B scores Tim Anderson (doubled) and Andrew Vaughn 3-run HR brings home José Abreu (walked) and Jiménez in the 7th. Andrew Vaughn RBI 1B scores José Abreu (singled, advanced to 2B on Eloy Jiménez GO) in the 9th. NOTABLE: The White Sox picked Tanner Banks in the 18th round of the 2014 draft (#528 overall). He must be thrilled/relieved to have made it to The Show at last!

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

2022 Opening Day Roster/Injuries

Photo credit: Paul L. Dineen

In addition to Garrett Crochet LHP, who is out for the season, and Lance Lynn RHP, who is out for 4-8 weeks, the White Sox will start the season with these players on the 10-Day or 15-Day Injured List:

  • Yoán Moncada INF – right oblique strain, day-to-day
  • Yermín Mercedes OF – left hamate fracture, expected back early to mid May
  • Ryan Burr RHP – right shoulder strain, day-to-day
  • Joe Kelly RHP – right biceps nerve injury, day-to-day

These gents will pick up the slack:

  • Jake Berger INF – recalled from Charlotte
  • Matt Foster RHP – recalled from Charlotte
  • Tanner Banks LHP – contract selected from Charlotte
  • Kyle Crick RHP – contract selected from Charlotte

Finally, Tim “No Regrets” Anderson will miss the first two games, serving a suspension for making contact with umpire Tim Timmons during a hullabaloo with the Tigers last September 27th.

So here’s what we’re working with…

2022 Opening Day Roster
Chicago White Sox