Week of April 26-May 2, 2021

Three-Game Series vs. Detroit Tigers

White Sox win series 2-1

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Luis Robert to Injured List

Postponed due to rain. Rescheduled for tomorrow (April 29) at 3:10 pm CDT as the first game of a split doubleheader. Second game starts as scheduled at 7:10 pm CDT.

Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

DEFENSE: Dylan Cease delivers what is surely the best start of his career, pitching a beautiful 3-hit, 7-inning shutout, striking out 9 with no walks. Cease dominates (he’s 7-0 against the Tigers) with an unpredictably varied fastball and effective off-speed pitching. His synergy with veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal is magnificent. OFFENSE: The White Sox score the first 7 runs on singles—4 in the 2^nd, 3 in the 5^th. But the 2-reliever, 10-at-bat bottom of the 5^th inning is not over. Yoán Moncada (3-run HR) and Yermín Mercedes (solo HR–449’) extend the lead to 11-0—all before Alex Lange can get the last out. Rookie Andrew Vaughn goes 3 for 4. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Crochet to Injured List

April 29—Luis Robert activated from IL

Three-Game Series vs. Cleveland Indians

Indians take series 2-1

Turns out that 3 ER, 1 BB and 11 SO on 6.0 IP is a *bad* day for Not Justin (now 3-2, 2.76, 68). Dallas Keuchel gives up 4 ER, issues 4 BB, and strikes out 4 in his 6.0 IP. Sox are first on the board when Yermín Mercedes scores on a Luis Robert 2B (officially E8). Cleveland scores 4 runs in the 3^rd (1B with 2 RBI, GO with 1 RBI, 1B wih 1 RBI off Keuchel), and the Sox take 2 back (Tim Anderson and Yoán Moncada 1Bs with 1 RBI each), making it 4-3 Cleveland until José Ramírez hits a solo HR off Evan Marshall in the 8^th. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Indians starter Triston McKenzie strikes out 5 of the first 6, then loads the bases with White Sox on BBs with 2 outs, before issuing a 4^th run-scoring BB in the 2^nd. Adding insult to injury, Tim Anderson launches a Grand Slam, making it 5-0 Sox. McKenzie answers by striking out Adam Eaton to end the inning. McKenzie strikes out 6 of 10 in the first 2 innings, but ends up down 5-0. Ouch. Lance Lynn pitches beautifully through 4 ⅔, then gives up 2 runs before making the 3^rd out. In the 5^th, Lynn retires 3 but lets an Austin Hedges solo HR through —2 SO, 2 BB, 4 H, 3 ER on the day. Reliever-starter Michael Kopech serves up a solid 3 innings (3 SO, 0 BB, 1 H, 0 R), lowering his ERA to 1.45. Aaron Bummer closes out the 9^th, striking out 2 and fielding a soft GO for the win. Leury García 2B with 2 RBI in the 4^th. Sox win with 7 runs on 4 hits. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

May 1—Lance Lynn activated from IL

Indians starter Zach Plesac was determined to redeem his two previous losses against the White Sox. And he did—6 SO, 4 BB, 3 H, 0 R on 5 ⅔ IP. White Sox starter Lucas Giolito pitches a nice 5 ⅓ innings, striking out 8 and giving up only 1 ER (3 BB, 2 H), but his teammates are unable to score against Plesac. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:

Injury – Luis Robert suffers a right hip flexor strain from an awkward fall near the bag on a ground-ball 1B in the 1^st. X-rays are “negative.”

Louis Robert to Injured List (Again)

May 3—Luis Robert has suffered a complete tear of the right hip flexor and will be out for an extended period and may be out for the season. His logical replacement, Adam Engel, continues to recover from a strained right hamstring sustained in spring training. Engel and rookie Andrew Vaughn will likely share the starting center field position.