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Cleveland Rangers (2), at Chicago White Sox (6), 8:00 PM ET
CLE: Parker Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA, 77 DRA)
CHW: Hagen Smith (3-3, 1.29 ERA, 79 DRA-).
Mexico returns to the mound for a four-day rest, watching Cleveland’s live season. He pitched well in Game 1, allowing two runs on four hits over 4⅓ innings, though he gave up more than his usual lot of hard contact. It was little, but then nothing would be enough as the guards were sealed by Hagen Smith and Grant Taylor. Smith threw 21 pitches in Game 3 to get the eight outs he couldn’t provide in the first outing, but Grant Taylor was nice and rested for the sixth in the ninth in case Will Venable decided to pull it off again.
The change of the Mexican last season was fatal, but his sinker is not fooling anyone at all. If he continues today, it means he’s being cautious with Chicago’s lefty-heavy lineup, especially since he didn’t seem to be able to get a secondary slider to set up the next pitch, only to get out of the zone twice. The White Sox were a team average against sub-95 mph fastballs this year, one point off the league wOBA—but even a wOBA (.360) you’d rather not have if you’re either starter.
The White Sox, for starters, have not. First of all, they don’t believe. Let’s go through.