Image credit: IMAGE IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Cleveland Cavaliers (2), at Chicago White Sox (6), 4:00 PM ET
CLE: Joey Cantillo (11-9, 3.62 ERA, 98 DRA-), before and after other guys
CWS: Noah Schultz (4-9, 5.57 ERA, 118 DRA-), before and after other guys
Here are some of the other guys who could be pitching in the first inning.
In each of Cantillo’s last three regular season starts — the last of which came on September 24 — he followed Daniel Espino as the starter. Marriage makes sense. Espino, who was at one point one of the most promising prospects in the game, overcame countless injuries and emerged with his absolute best. He has a strong delivery with power and a 98-101 mph fastball that almost looks easy to throw, a 92 mph slider, and a big, slow curveball. Espino came on in relief of Parker Messick in Game One to face the White Sox lineup and got out of the jam in the fifth inning. He is likely to pitch one inning before Cantillo heads out.
Cantillo is close to Espino, and not because he used it. There is a simple tradition about Espino; Cantillo Rancens, slot overhand pair with big extensions to the mound, which is already an odd composition. Espino is a high-octane modern reliever, all fastballs and combinations; Cantillo’s pitch is classic, with a great curve and parachute finishing off his 92 mph fastball. (One thing they do share is a commanding error.) The left-hander has been a regular in Cleveland this year and has been accessible throughout, but some late-season slumps have relegated him to the role of a bulk pitcher. He did not put it well, which is always something to think about.
While Espino following Cantillo makes sense, this is still very much an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Guardian. This means no one is stuck for long and everything is on the table, especially Foster Griffin and Tanner Bibee coming in as backups if needed, even if it’s just for a few points. The fact that they took Cleveland as long as they did announcing their plans should tell you something.
And Sox, who had time to write or not to write.
*shrug*
Look, the White Sox still have a traditional pitching plan to send us this October, and they won’t be doing it for Game Three. Sean Newcomb will open and probably go short after 41 pitches on Monday, but after him it’s very hard to guess. Hagen Smith (1.29 ERA, 79 DRA-) opened Game 1 and threw over 50 pitches—he would be on three days’ rest for Game 3, so maybe they’ll save him for a hypothetical Game 4 or the first Game of the ALCS if you get there. Maybe fellow rookie lefty Noah Schultz (5.57 ERA, 118 DRA), who, like Smith, is known for his heavy hitting from the left side and shaky command; Schultz is yet to pitch this October. But perhaps one of the most important is handed to the right-hander, who also still pitches like Davis Martin (3.95 ERA, 105 DRA-) or the veteran Erick Fedde (3.83 ERA, 128 DRA-).
Part of the magic of the White Sox pitching system comes from the fact that they have tons of guys who can catch the ball and give them three or four pitches. No matter what the bulk of the pitcher is, however, it’s likely as long as Sean Burgos sticks around in Game Two. That’s certainly funny, as the choice seems to come down to a fairly aggressive left-handed rookie with hitting power (Smith or Schultz) or a better veteran who usually survives in offseason ownership (Fedde or Martin).
I believe the most likely and logical choice for the bulk of the work (re: three innings) should be 23-year-old Noah Schultz, a 6-foot-10 lefty with a slingin’ low slot, good arm strength, and an arsenal that moves mostly to the West. Anastor has one of the dirtiest pitches in the majors and can make the ball dance anywhere between a changeup, a depressor, a dribble and a curveball, but his poor figure leaves the peak of the quadruple on his right-handed bat; He has allowed 10 of 11 homers this season against opposing hitters. As Cleveland is very weak against pitching, I also expect to see Hagen Smith for multi-inning relief if manager Will Venable thinks he can ice the series in this game. Smith, like Schultz, is a rookie lefty with a beast of a slider and a low slot delivery. Unlike Schultz, Smith’s fastball is in good shape and works nicely as a disguise for a heater — his 37% strikeout rate was no accident. Whoever comes after Newcomb is A) likely to be used, and B) October will be somewhat new.