Nick Nastrini
Nastrini was the other pitcher obtained in the Lynn and Kelly deal. He is rated as the 8th-best prospect in the White Sox farm system.
Nastrini is having a strong spring too as he has allowed just one earned run in nine innings pitched. He threw in four games for Triple-A Charlotte after he was acquired by the Sox and posted a 4.12 ERA. It would not hurt to get him some more innings at Triple-A since those were the only four games he pitched in.
At the same time, the Sox rotation does not have a good option to be the fifth starter right now.
Nick Nastrini with a 0.82 ERA and 0.82 WHIP this spring and that goes down to a 0.69 ERA when you factor in his one B game start in between ST games.
— Elijah Evans (@ElijahEv8) March 18, 2024
Even without his best stuff today command wise, he got through 4 scoreless. Simply no reason for him not be in the rotation.
Michael Kopech has been banished to the bullpen permanently. Jared Shuster has been sent to minor league camp after a bad spring. Touki Toussaint has had a terrible spring. Brad Keller is a non-roster invitee, but he has never been very good at the major league level.
Service time be darned, the Sox need a fifth starter and right now Nastrini has earned the job.