Chicago White Sox Morning BP: Carlos Rodon gets the start
The series with the Minnesota Twins had one good day sandwiched in-between two disappointing games, but that’s been the story for most of the season when it comes to the 2015 Chicago White Sox.
Today, Carlos Rodon will face Alfredo Simon, aka: “Big Pasta” with the White Sox starting a four-game set with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit.
The White Sox enter the game losers seven of their past 10 games, with a 31-40 record (13-25 on the road), nine games under the .500 mark, and last in the AL Wild Card race (7.5 games back of the second spot).
Chicago’s winning percentage entering Thursday’s game is .437 on the year after 71 games.
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Rodon enters the first of four with the Tigers by having a 3-1 record and a 3.75 ERA with 48 strikeouts. The White Sox lefty has not faced the Tigers in his rookie season, and so he’s not faced any of the Detroit batters.
For Simon (7-4, 3.29 ERA, 58 K’s), He’s faced all White Sox batters except for J.B. Shuck in his MLB career, with Adam Eaton bating .429 against Big Pasta in seven at bats (one RBI).
I keep harping for the White Sox to show some type of positive consistency as a team, but that can be said for Rodon as he continues to battle through his rookie season in the Majors.
In his past three starts Rodon is 2-1 with wins against the Houston Astros on June 9 and the Texas Rangers on June 20. In those two starts he pitched six innings each, allowing a combined two runs on eight hits and five walks. He also combined for 10 strikeouts in those two wins.
The bump in the road was a June 15 start at Pittsburgh where he went just 3.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and one walk. In that loss he struck out three.
With Thursday’s game (airing on WGN) having a 1:05 p.m. ET (12:05 p.m CT) start Rodon has pitched well in day games, as he is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four outings (two starts) in the daylight.
Jun 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) and catcher Tyler Flowers (21) meet on the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of an inter-league game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
In 16 innings during the day, Rodon has allowed just four earned runs and struck out 16 batters. Opponents are batting .250 against him in the early games.
Rodon’s WHIP in the day outings is 1.38.
On the other hand, away from U.S. Cellular Field, Rodon in six games (four starts) has an ERA of 5.25 in 24 innings pitched, with 25 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.83. Opponents have a .327 average against Rodon in road games.
With the lack of success the White Sox have had as of late when it comes to team success, I’m very interested in seeing if Rodon can put together a second consecutive solid outing.
White Sox headlines
• Sale roughed up as White Sox fall to Twins: By Rhett Bollinger and Betsy Helfand of MLB.com.
• Robin Ventura’s manner is A-OK with Adam Eaton: By Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Ozzie Guillen, Orlando Hernandez Added To White Sox Championship Reunion: By CBS Chicago.
• White Sox top prospect steals the show at the Southern League All Star Game: By Wayne Cavadi of GradingontheCurve.com.
• Maybe It’s Time To Blow Up the White Sox: By Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.com.
Next: White Sox lose rubber match to Twins