The Chicago White Sox pitchers took rather a lot away from their first collection towards the New York Yankees final week at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Yankees gained three of the 4 video games, however the pitching made strides because the collection went alongside. The Sox allowed 25 runs within the first two video games and 7 the final two.
“(We learned) the importance of getting ahead and staying on the attack instead of falling behind in hitters’ counts, relying on making a really, really good pitch,” starter Dallas Keuchel mentioned earlier this week in Kansas City, Mo. “As straightforward because it sounds, it’s powerful generally.
“That’s really the main point. Moving forward, we want to do a better job. (Pitching coach) Ethan (Katz) has really preached that, so that’s a testament to what he’s been saying. If we can get that on track, I think we’re going to be really, really good.”
Keuchel was slated to begin Friday towards the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, however the sport was postponed due to impending inclement climate.
It will probably be made up as a part of a doubleheader Sunday, with the primary sport beginning at 2:05 p.m. Central time.
The postponement provides the Sox some aid after taking part in 5 video games in 4 days in Kansas City.
“This is better for everybody,” Sox supervisor Tony La Russa mentioned. “It’s a good day for our bullpen. It gives (Kendall Graveman) a day and (Liam) Hendriks. We could have played, but this time of the year we’ll take it.”
Keuchel will probably be on the mound for Saturday’s sport, which begins at 12:05 p.m.
Johnny Cueto will pitch Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader and Michael Kopech in Game 2. The Sox on Friday returned Kopech from the paternity record and optioned reliever Ryan Burr to Triple-A Charlotte.
Keuchel (2-3, 5.54 ERA) is coming off back-to-back spectacular outings, most just lately Saturday towards the Yankees when he allowed 4 hits, walked three and struck out three in 5 scoreless inning.
“I’d still like to get better on maneuvering the counts in my favor,” he mentioned. “Instead of taking part in catch-up 2-0 or 1-0, I’d prefer to be hovering 60 or 70% first-pitch strikes. And that’s not out of the realm (of risk).
“Some of my best years have been 68, 69, 70%. A few bad years have been right around 50, so it’s a coin flip. Most of the stuff (Katz) preaches is what I want to do every time out as well.”
Keuchel didn’t issue within the determination Saturday, a sport the Sox gained 3-2 on Luis Robert’s RBI single within the ninth inning. After the 86-pitch outing, Keuchel expressed disappointment in not pitching within the sixth inning, which led to a dialog the following day with La Russa.
“We, the team, are mostly appreciative and excited about the five innings he pitched,” La Russa mentioned Sunday. “His history, since I’ve been here, in the sixth inning has been not good.”
Keuchel pitched a season-high six innings May 8 in Boston. He allowed two runs, each within the sixth, on eight hits within the 3-2 win.
“I’m a big believer in earning stuff,” mentioned Keuchel, the 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner with the Houston Astros. “I prefer to assume that my baseball card says I’ve earned some stuff, however on the similar time you need to reinvent your self each 5 days to be who you need to be. I’m no totally different.
“Everybody on this room is identical. I did inform him that the one time I’ve gone within the sixth inning is Boston this 12 months. So the numbers are going to be skewed somewhat bit. The extra I prefer to be the place I’m at, the extra it’s going to get higher. Both of these runs got here on some gentle contact. Those numbers work in my favor extra so than simply seeing two runs on the board within the sixth inning in Boston.
“Take the good with the good.”
Keuchel is pushing ahead and mentioned he’s “nowhere near where I want to be.”
“The last couple of outings have been a nice trend,” Keuchel mentioned. “But I’d rather be finishing really really strong, so I’d rather get that first bad one in Cleveland (10 runs, eight earned, on 10 hits with one walk in one-plus innings April 20) out of the way early than late as tough as it is to look back and see. Just one of those things where we’ll talk about it here hopefully in July and August and lot more wins under the belt, lot more team wins and going six, seven innings.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
