White Sox add Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal, beat Guardians to restore three-game AL Central lead
Getting the call to the major leagues was an emotional moment for new White Sox pitchers Tanner McDougal and Hagen Smith. But as two of the Sox’ top prospects, they understand their assignment is much more than being feel-good stories.
‘‘I’m excited to go out there and compete and hopefully help win a pennant back here,’’ said McDougal, the Sox’ No. 4 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
There’s still some time before the Sox can do that, but they gave themselves some breathing room in the American League Central race Saturday by beating the Guardians 6-3. The Sox snapped a season-high four-game losing streak and restored their three-game lead over the Guardians and Twins in the division.
‘‘It’s obviously a very important series, so I’m really glad that we got to win this one,’’ said first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who homered in the Sox’ five-run sixth that overturned a 2-0 deficit. ‘‘We were in a bad losing streak right here, so it’s good to reset and then come back today with a win.’’
Neither McDougal nor Smith, the team’s No. 2 prospect, were used Saturday, but they will be relievers. Both have had injuries this season and were working out of the bullpen at Triple-A Charlotte despite having starting pedigrees.
And both will be tested in a race that might go down to the last days of the season.
‘‘It’s awesome,’’ Smith said. ‘‘To go out there and compete is the biggest thing for me. Love going out there and [competing] and [going] out there and [attacking] the hitters.’’
To make room for McDougal and Smith, the Sox sent left-hander Noah Schultz and right-hander David Sandlin to Charlotte. They also designated right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez for assignment.
The Schultz plan
Schultz will be a starter in the minors. Sox manager Will Venable said there are some mechanical issues Schultz needs to iron out.
Right-hander Erick Fedde, who was dropped from the rotation after the Sox acquired Luis Castillo from the Mariners at the trade deadline, is a candidate to make the next start in Schultz’s spot. Venable didn’t definitively anoint Fedde a starter again because the Sox still might need him out of the bullpen in the next few days.
The gaffe
Venable still wasn’t over his blunder Friday that forced Schultz from the game when he made a second mound visit in the first inning. Venable said he didn’t sleep well afterward, probably would lose sleep for a couple of more nights and wasn’t OK yet with what happened.
He also knew he needed to look forward.
‘‘That’s what this league is about: You’ve got to dust yourself off and get back up and go to battle,’’ Venable said. ‘‘So that’s what we’re going to do.’’