Vasil departs from start with right elbow soreness

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox right-hander Mike Vasil left his start in a 7-2 win over the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday with right elbow soreness. He will undergo further evaluation, according to the team.

In Saturday’s start against a lineup featuring six regulars from the two-time defending World Series champions, Vasil allowed two hits and walked two while striking out three over 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Those two walks were issued back to back to Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy with two outs in the fourth, before Vasil had a mound discussion with a White Sox trainer, the White Sox infield and catcher Edgar Quero and then departed for Zach Franklin to take over.

Vasil was a key piece within the 2025 White Sox bullpen, posting a 2.50 ERA over 47 games and 101 innings pitched. The right-hander has been stretched out during Spring Training with a chance at joining the ’26 starting rotation, a possibility reaffirmed by manager Will Venable before Vasil took the mound and eventually suffered the setback.

“So, kind of day by day, we are collecting more information and getting closer to some of these decisions,” Venable said. “[Vasil] has just got to attack the zone. He knows that.

“It’s something that really is a separator for him when he’s pitching well and when he’s not pitching at his best. So, regardless of what role he pitches in, it’s something that’s going to be No. 1 on his list of things to accomplish.”

Shane Smith will be the Opening Day starter for the White Sox on March 26 in Milwaukee, facing his original Brewers organization. Venable wouldn’t commit Saturday to any rotation spots beyond Smith, although Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Erick Fedde and Sean Burke seem to be the favorites.

Southpaw Sean Newcomb will be working out of the bullpen for the ’26 White Sox after being stretched out during Spring Training. The White Sox had that particular talk with the veteran Saturday morning.

“He was in competition for a rotation spot. We let him know as it’s shaping up, we really want to utilize him out of the bullpen,” said Venable of Newcomb. “We are still working it out, especially because a number of guys are still in the running for competition.

“We are getting to some ideas. But we still haven’t made any final decisions.”

Venable spoke earlier in camp of the White Sox stretching out nine pitchers in Arizona, while not factoring in the top pitching prospects who weren’t going to break camp with the team.