PEORIA, Ariz. -- Before Lucas Giolito gets stretched out this spring, he wants to work on pitching out of the stretch.
“Out of the windup, I felt like I was really over my back side, driving forward, using my legs. The timing was pretty good,” the pitcher said. “Throwing a lot of strikes, throwing strikes with the fastball, especially. Out of the stretch, felt like the timing was a bit off. Arm coming out, a little late, first movement being forward instead of the back leg.”
Giolito made his Cactus League debut in Chicago's 8-3 loss to Seattle on Thursday with mixed results. He was charged with three runs, one earned, on three hits in two innings. He struck out two in what can be viewed as an effective first outing.
Last season, Giolito led the American League with 90 walks and gave up more earned runs (118) than any other pitcher. He also had a 6.13 ERA -- the highest among 57 pitchers who qualified for the ERA title. An improved delivery from the stretch, along with other improvements, could result in a more consistent season in 2019.
“That’s something to work on moving forward and take away from [Thursday],” he said. “[My] next bullpen in a couple days will probably be 90 percent out of the stretch just to get a feel for it and work on it more, but I feel like it’s really close.”
Injury updates
• Right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning, the club's No. 6 prospect, was examined by White Sox doctor Nikhil Verma in Glendale, Ariz., and Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla., after experiencing right forearm soreness.
The pitcher will continue with rest and undergo treatment for the next seven to 10 days before beginning a throwing program.
• Luis Alexander Basabe, the club's No. 7 prospect, had successful surgery on his left hand Tuesday in Chicago and remains on track to return in late May. He broke the hamate bone in his left hand during batting practice last Monday.
• Outfielder Daniel Palka, who is nursing a sore left hamstring, is nearing a return to Cactus League action.
“I’m doing pretty much everything, but I still want to give it a day or two,” Palka said. “It’s about as close as it can be, but being careful as can be is important right now.”
Palka tweaked the leg while running the bases in Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Padres and has been receiving treatment each day. He could be back on the field this weekend.
“Obviously, there’s nothing I can do about it but get better, and I’m not going to dwell on it,” Palka said. “I’m not too worried about missing a few days. I’ll be all right.”
Worth noting
Ervin Santana threw a simulated game Thursday morning. The White Sox signed the veteran to a Minor League deal last week.
“It looks like he is feeling good about himself right now and healthy,” manager Rick Renteria said. “He got up and down twice, and the hitters could see that there was a little something to him. You could see why he has been around for a while.”
Up next
The White Sox will send Ivan Nova to the mound Friday against the Rangers at Surprise Stadium (2:05 p.m. CT) for his first start with the team. On Saturday, Carlos Rodon will start against the Rockies at Camelback Ranch.