The Chicago White Sox continued their winning streak on Monday night when they beat their latest victim, the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-4. White Sox bats stayed hot and led the way to victory. Once again, the bullpen turned in another dominant performance.
Carlos Rodon made his second start for the year but had to exit after the 2nd inning with a shoulder injury, officially moving him to the ten-day IL this afternoon. The 2014 first-round pick has been on and off the injured list his whole career. Rodon has had stretches where you see why the White Sox drafted him so high, but his injuries have held him back from living up to his potential. He has yet to play a complete season since being drafted.
The loss of Rodon has left White Sox three pitchers down. Michael Kopech opted not to play, and Reynaldo Lopez is on the IL after he went down in his first start with a shoulder strain. It will be interesting to see what route the White Sox take to replace Rodon in the rotation. Dane Dunning would be the best choice. Ross Detwiler has made plenty of starts in the past, but he is pitching so well out of the pen that changing roles would do more damage than good. The White Sox also signed longtime pitcher Clayton Richard on Monday, but there is no way he would be ready to take the ball for Rodon’s next start. Not only is Dane Dunning the best option but seemingly the only option.
The Washington Nationals drafted Dunning in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft. The Nationals then traded him to the White Sox, along with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, for OF Adam Eaton. Giolito and Lopez were immediately integrated into the White Sox pitching rotation while Dunning started in the minors. Dunning was only 21 in 2016, so they did not want to tax him too much. That year he had made eight starts and compiled a 3-2 record with a 2.02ERA, 35.2IP 32K, 7BB, and .93WHIP, which proved Dunning was not just a toss in with Giolito and Lopez.
In 2017, the White Sox gave Dunning a real workload; he went 8-8 and started 26 games with a 2.94ERA, 144IP, 168K, 38BB, and 1.15WHIP. Dunning’s 2017 stats proved that he could handle a full season’s workload and prove to be a serviceable starter. 2018 was the season to show he can have back to back full seasons with good productivity. He was only able to make only 15 starts because of a forearm issue but still put up good numbers (6-3 2.71ERA 86.1IP 100K 26BB 1.19WHIP) before his injury shut him down for the rest of the season.
The plan was to ease Dunning back into camp in 2019, but he experienced forearm discomfort again and chose to have Tommy John surgery. With the extra time off and late start to the season, Dunning was able to attend spring training 2.0 and White Sox summer camp but did not make the 30 man squad at the beginning of the year. Instead, he was sent to their taxi squad; the reserve squad created due to the cancellation of the minor leagues. Dunning has earned his chance to show what has to offer.
After yesterday’s win, the White Sox offense ranks first in the AL with a .281AVG and 92Hits, they rank second in OPS with .797 and 50Runs, and fourth in Home Runs (13). This offense should only be getting better as the year goes on, and players return from injury, similar to OF Nomar Mazara.
Mazara started the season battling some COVID related symptoms. He came in to pinch-hit for Adam Engel in the 6th inning and finished the game. Mazara went 1-2 in the game. He should add some more power in this already stacked lineup and take the pressure off the players who had to sub while he was out.
The White Sox are looking to win their 6th game in a row on Monday night and will have a good test against the Brewers best pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who is 1-1 1.59ERA 11.1IP 15K 2BB .62WHIP. The offense needs to do what they do best and hit this guy off the mound.
Lucas Giolito is making his third start for the White Sox and is still searching for his first win. The first game of this series was dripping with intensity, and the second game looks like it could be even better with both aces on the mound for a showdown in Miller Park.