GLENDALE, Ariz. – White Sox right-hander Ervin Santana had a promising start in a “B” game against the Padres in Peoria on Friday, doing nothing to hurt his chances to make the Opening Day roster.

Santana pitched five innings and allowed one run on a hit and a walk while striking out three. Though he faced mostly Minor Leaguers, he saw Manny Machado for five at-bats.

“It was like, ‘Dude, every time, every inning, I have to face you?’” Santana said Saturday. “And he‘s like, ‘Yup, that’s right.’ It was fun. Got a broken bat, a lot of ground balls and two fly balls. He’s getting his timing, and I’m getting my timing.”

Santana, 36, has not pitched in a Cactus League game as he works back to full strength after missing most of last season following surgery on his right middle finger. He is a non-roster invitee in the White Sox camp.

“There’s no pain, so that’s a good thing for me,” Santana said. “It’s huge. It’s a big difference. I feel like myself again. I don’t have any restrictions on throwing the ball.”

Manager Rick Renteria had a good report on the outing from pitching coach Don Cooper and assistant pitching coach Curt Hasler, who watched Santana pitch.

“They said he threw very, very well,” Renteria said. “Worked between 91 and 92 miles an hour. His command looked good. Coop said he’s got a little more in the tank. But he’s a veteran -- he knows what he’s doing, he’s getting himself ready. He’s very happy with the way he’s progressing.”

Santana was 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 211 1/3 innings for the Twins in 2017, his last healthy season.

Nova tinkers with cutter

After a tough outing against the Brewers -- he allowed six runs (five earned) in 3 1/3 innings -- White Sox right-hander Ivan Nova bounced back Saturday and pitched into the fifth inning in a 2-0 loss to the Dodgers. He allowed two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings while walking none and striking out three.

“It was a good day,” Nova said. “I felt better than the last one. I was able to throw more strikes than the one before. We had a good game plan, and I was able to execute pitches.”

Part of his success came courtesy of a cutter in the high 80s, but so did a two-run, opposite-field home run by Austin Barnes in the second inning. It’s a pitch he has reinserted in his arsenal after not using it for nearly five years.

“I used to throw it,” Nova said. “I’ve been practicing it in the bullpen the last two weeks. I felt like I could throw it today. I threw four. Out of four, three were good ones. The home run was that pitch -- it didn’t do nothing. But I feel good with that pitch.”

Nova explained that he stopped throwing the cutter after he had Tommy John surgery in April of 2014.

“I feel good enough to come back and throw my pitch,” Nova said. “I’ll be able to throw a bullpen two more times before the season, make sure I can throw it in the right spot.”

Nova can probably use the additional starts to continue fine-tuning, but he emphasized that he feels ready to start the season.

“I can’t wait, man,” Nova said. “I got two more before the first one of the season. I’m ready.”

Delmonico expected Monday

Outfielder Nicky Delmonico may be cleared to play in games as early as Monday, following a collision with an outfield wall on March 7 that left him with a concussion.

“We’re trying to, hopefully, get him back to at least start DH’ing on Monday, after the concussion protocol, and then see how it continues to play out,” Renteria said. “All things being equal, I think he might be able to DH in that game, just to get him back in.”

Up next

The White Sox travel to Salt River Fields on Sunday to face a D-backs split squad at 3:10 p.m. CT. They will send left-hander Carlos Rodon to the mound to face Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke.