CHICAGO -- While the White Sox pitching plans have been far from conventional this postseason, they have worked to perfection so far and there’s been no reason to deviate from them.
So they’ll keep it untraditional in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday, as lefty reliever Sean Newcomb will serve as an opener after he pitched two innings in relief in Chicago's 4-3 win over the Guardians on Game 2 on Monday. The rest of the team's pitching plans after that are being discussed, but Newcomb gives Chicago a lefty to neutralize the lefty-heavy top of Cleveland’s order. Manager Will Venable said there could be different relievers used than in the first two games because there’s no day off after the game for the first time this series.
"We are going to start Sean Newcomb tomorrow,” Venable said. “As we evaluated availability with the arms we are throwing right now, we are guessing that on some level, based on what we’ve used to help build our plan, there will be different inputs as far as who is available or what it looks like with no off-day after this Game 3.”
Newcomb, a 10-year veteran, is coming off a strong regular season that saw him post a 3.09 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 90 1/3 innings while putting up similar splits against right-handers and lefties. He was effective against the Guardians on Monday, tossing two scoreless frames with three strikeouts. He did make a throwing error that allowed two runs to score, but he was otherwise a reliable bridge from opener Anthony Kay to bulk reliever Sean Burke.
It’ll be Newcomb's ninth postseason appearance, and he has a 2.38 ERA in a combined 11 1/3 playoff innings, but it’s only his second start and his first since Game 3 of the 2018 National League Division Series with the Braves. So Newcomb is excited about starting it off for the pitching staff, especially in what should be an electric atmosphere at Rate Field, with the White Sox looking to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since 1906. But Newcomb said knowing how well his teammates have been pitching helps calm his nerves.
“It’s the same as any other outing, but you’re just a little more amped up,” Newcomb said. “But just having a bullpen where everybody's doing well coming in here, it makes it easier on everybody.”
After Newcomb, the White Sox could turn to pitchers they haven’t used yet this series, such as lefty Noah Schultz or right-handers Davis Martin, Erick Fedde or David Sandlin. But much of their strategy will depend on if they have the lead.
Lefty Hagen Smith remains a secret weapon of sorts and threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings as a starter in Game 1. And closer Grant Taylor has been remarkable, getting a 12-out save in Game 1 and a four-out save in Game 2. Chicago would likely turn to Smith and Taylor with the lead to try to lock down its first trip to the AL Championship Series since 2005. Hard-throwing right-hander Jordan Hicks has also excelled this postseason with four scoreless innings and would be in that mix.
It’s essentially all hands on deck again, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t continue to work given the way it’s gone this postseason. Through four games, the pitching staff has a 1.75 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 36 innings.
“You're seeing some guys who traditionally have been starters throwing two innings, one out, whatever it may be,” Taylor said. “Everyone down there is ready to do what's necessary for the team, and the past four games we've been pretty good at it. So I don't think there should be any doubt on whether we can keep going with it.”
White Sox general manager Chris Getz praised his club’s pitchers for embracing their unorthodox usage, as the line between starter and reliever has been blurred so far this postseason. It’s not always easy to pitch effectively without a set role and routine, but Chicago’s pitchers are proving that it’s possible to make it work with some creativity and the right attitude.
“We've got buy-in because this all-hands-on-deck approach is not only something that we believe in, but the players are all in, as well,” Getz said. “So there hasn't been any friction on that front. These guys are playing selfless baseball.”