White Sox outfielder Nomar Mazara went 1-for-2 in Monday's 6-4 win over the Brewers, hours after he was activated from the 10-day injured list. After flying out as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning, he remained in the game to play right field and singled in the eighth.

Manager Rick Renteria planned to give Mazara one game to reacclimate himself with the team but hinted he might give him an at-bat in the opener at Miller Park. Mazara, who's expected to platoon some in center with Adam Engel, should see regular playing time as early as Tuesday.

“I am looking to try to get Maz in against both righties and lefties,” Renteria said before the game. “Today I want him to just get back in, get acclimated with the club. We're glad to have him back. You're going see him a lot. It's a big add for us.”

The 25-year-old Mazara, who was acquired last December from the Rangers, has been rehabbing in Schaumburg since July 28 after being placed on the IL July 21. Mazara revealed during a Zoom call with reporters that he had come down with strep throat and was sick for only two days, but he was careful to adhere to all of the health protocols in place.

The White Sox have done well in Mazara’s absence -- entering Monday’s game, they had the highest cumulative batting average in the Majors -- but there’s no doubt the club will welcome a left-handed-hitting spark to the lower half of the order. Mazara is looking forward to joining his teammates on the field soon.

“It’s my goal to improve, to try to take the next step and show everyone what I have in me,” Mazara said. “I’ve got a lot left. It’s a short season, but there’s a lot of things that we can do. … We just have to enjoy the ride.”

In addition to activating Mazara, the White Sox also optioned catcher Yermin Mercedes to the Schaumburg training facility and transferred right-hander Jimmy Lambert to the 45-day injured list. Lambert was placed on the IL last Wednesday with a right forearm strain.

“Right now, it's just a forearm strain, and they believe that with rest and whatever treatments they give him he’ll to be able to rebound,” Renteria said. “At this point, it was like it was going to be about six weeks, which just made sense to go ahead and allow him to go through the healing process.”

High marks for Grandal
The White Sox visit to Miller Park Monday marked catcher Yasmani Grandal’s first time facing his former team. Grandal spent the 2019 season with the Brewers after a four-year run with the Dodgers from '15-18.

Prior to the game, reliever Aaron Bummer raved about working with Grandal, long considered one of the better defensive catchers in the game.

“It's been great working with James [McCann], too -- I think that they've both taken a lot of pride in their pitch-framing abilities, and I think we’ve gotten a lot of strike calls,” Bummer said. “I know that me personally, I've gotten a lot of strike calls that I didn't necessarily get in the past. As a pitcher, I'll take anything that I can get.”

In 2019, Grandal was deemed the second best pitch framer and second best hitting catcher in baseball by FanGraphs, and he also received high marks as one of the Majors' top overall defensive catchers.

“He's been great,” Bummer said. “Just his mental process on why he [calls for] certain pitches in certain spots, and being able to bounce ideas off him. He's a wealth of knowledge, and I'm glad he's on our side.”

Air-fives
Bummer is aware of the need for all teams to continue to be cautious about practicing social distancing at all times, including when they’re on the field. He’s noticed a more heightened effort in the past few days, especially when it comes to celebrating the good times.

Bummer, noting the healthy camaraderie among players, said they’re figuring out how to best enjoy their successes without actually coming in contact with each other.

“[We’re] trying to figure out a way to kind of recreate that without the actual touching and without being right next to each other,” Bummer said. “I think that as the season goes on, as we've had a little bit more success the last five games, you're kind of starting to see that meshing.

“You started seeing the guys figure out what's OK. You're also having fun with the socially distant celebrations, compared to giving each other high-fives. Hopefully it's a lot of fun. We're trying to figure it out as best as we can.”