Giolito goes on injured list with strained hammy

Fulmer, Cordell recalled from Triple-A; Moncada says he's OK

April 18th, 2019

DETROIT -- was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring prior to Thursday’s series opener with the Tigers, which the White Sox lost 9-7. Right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte.

Giolito was cruising against the Royals on Wednesday when he felt a little pull in his hamstring above the left knee of his plant leg on a changeup thrown to Alex Gordon in the third. He thought it was a random thing so he tried to pitch through it, but he felt the same pain on the next offering.

Manager Rick Renteria and head athletic trainer Brian Ball came out to check on Giolito. But on his third warmup toss, when he reared back and tried to simulate a game situation, he felt the issue again.

“Just a light strain, Grade 1. If it were a different situation, maybe a different time of the year, I would try to push through it,” said Giolito, who has a 2-1 mark with a 5.30 ERA over four starts. “Just make sure I get my hamstring nice and strong, nice and loose, and I’ll be good to go.”

Television cameras captured Giolito looking upset as he moved into the dugout. Part of that frustration was from the injury, but Giolito also was upset to leave such a strong start.

“Probably the best my slider has been,” Giolito said. “I felt like it was a game I could have gone deep, and I ended up coming out in the third inning and kind of had to wear the bullpen out there. It’s tough, but nothing I can do about it now.”

Renteria wouldn’t commit to a starter for Monday against the Orioles. Manny Banuelos was stretched out as a starter during Spring Training and is the most likely candidate.

Fulmer returns

Although he’s unlikely to move into the rotation, Fulmer will provide length for the White Sox in the bullpen. The first-round selection and No. 8 pick overall in the 2015 Draft has made some important adjustments in ’19.

“This is the best my cutter has been, and I’m able to get good ride on my fastball,” Fulmer said. “At times last year, my fastball would cut with my cutter. So I’m able to figure out the difference between the two pitches. I changed my curveball grip and have a lot more consistency with that.

“The cutter with more tilt and the heater with more rise is playing a lot more up in the zone, and my changeup is the best I’ve thrown in my career. Maintaining that stuff throughout the year is my biggest goal.”

Moncada returns

Yoan Moncada didn’t miss a game even after taking a Martin Maldonado throw to the left side of the head when he tried to steal second in Wednesday’s loss in extra innings. Moncada was taken out of the game for precautionary reasons, but he did not have a concussion.

“It hurt. It hurt a lot. I wasn’t concerned, but I think it was because I just was dizzy. It was a big hit,” said Moncada through interpreter Billy Russo. “I feel good. Yesterday was just the headache. But I rested last night and now I feel much better.”

They said it

“If the questions are what our plans with [Ryan] Cordell are, I'm going to run him out there every day. I'm going to give him the chance to play against righties, lefties, everybody.” -- Renteria on the outfielder, who was recalled from Charlotte to take Daniel Palka’s spot.