On Tuesday night, the Chicago White Sox were back home for their final home stretch of the regular season. Reynaldo López took the mound against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. López shined against a Reds lineup full of dangerous hitters.
He pitched six innings, allowing only two hits while giving up one run. One of the hits was a single to right field in the top of the second inning by Reds’ designated hitter, Joey Votto. The second hit López allowed was a home run in the top of the fifth inning to the Reds’ third baseman, Eugenio Suarez who now has 30 on the season.
His final line was six innings pitched, four strikeouts, no walks, and one earned run. On the season, López has lowered his ERA to 2.98 and his WHIP to 0.89. He has started nine games for the White Sox this season and has a 4-3 record.
In 57.1 innings pitched for the White Sox this year, López has recorded 55 strikeouts and only 12 walks. This latest outing shows that López is going to be a very effective weapon for the White Sox in the postseason.
The Chicago White Sox needs Reynaldo Lopez once they reach the postseason.
Reynaldo López will be a valuable pitcher for the Sox in the playoffs, as he proved tonight with six innings of one-run ball, only two hits allowed, no walks. Only unknown now is in what capacity. Depends a lot on what Carlos Rodón can give Sox, which they'll find out tomorrow.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) September 29, 2021
With the availability of Carlos Rodón virtually unknown and the uncertainty surrounding Dallas Keuchel making the playoff roster, López will be an important asset for the White Sox in the postseason. The ability to either start a game or come in as a reliever will serve to be extremely useful for the White Sox as they have yet to finalize a postseason rotation and roster.
In what looks to be possibly his last start of the regular season, López has had an excellent season for the White Sox. He has recorded the lowest ERA and WHIP of his career this season while also improving his K/BB ratio to 4.6.
After having a shaky start to the 2021 season with a 7.62 ERA while in Triple-A Charlotte, López has settled down and gotten much more comfortable in Chicago. Whatever role he is used in for the Chicago White Sox in the postseason, he will be an important piece in the team’s journey through October. The better he pitches, the farther they have a chance to go.