MIAMI -- The series finale between the White Sox and Marlins featured both clubs’ Opening Day starters, with 2025 All-Star Shane Smith taking the ball for Chicago opposite Miami ace Sandy Alcántara.
Much like their first outings of the regular season, the results followed a similar script.
Smith lasted just three innings in the White Sox 10-0 loss on Wednesday afternoon at loanDepot park, allowing eight runs on eight hits and two walks, including a three-run homer to Liam Hicks, who leads the Majors with 12 RBIs. Smith struck out one and now owns a 19.29 ERA.
When asked about his outing, Smith didn’t elaborate.
“Not good enough,” he said.
Trouble surfaced in the opening frame. Smith walked Jacob Marsee before Otto Lopez reached on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error to Chase Meidroth at second base allowed Marsee to advance to third, quickly putting Chicago on its heels.
“I just got it quickly. Chase was still getting to the bag. [I] just didn't see him on the back. Made a bad throw,” Smith said.
From there, the inning and Smith’s outing unraveled, continuing a pattern that has emerged early in the season.
“Similar to the first start, really, the four-seamer just wasn't in play, didn't get a lot of swing and miss,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Just another outing where we didn't see the Shane that we are used to.”
While the results mirrored his first start, Smith pointed to small areas of improvement from his Opening Day outing against Milwaukee, when he recorded just five outs and allowed four runs (three earned).
“I didn't get ahead in the count as much as I'd like to, but I think I was in the zone a little bit more than I was last week,” Smith said. “Eight hits, two of them over 90 miles an hour, just kind of the way the game went today. [I] continued to mix and just [got] frustrated.”
Across his recent outings, including Spring Training, when Smith posted a 10.13 ERA, the right-hander has yet to resemble the All-Star who leaned heavily on his four-seam fastball last season. Smith threw the pitch 1,089 times in 2025, holding opponents to a .192 average, well below the .249 MLB mark.
Regaining command of that pitch remains a key focus for Chicago’s staff.
“The fastball command. That's a really good pitch for him,” pitching coach Zach Bove said. “So get that in a good spot. And if we got to pivot using the other pitches that play like [it], that's going to be the key for him.”
So far, that consistency has yet to materialize.
As a group, the White Sox rotation has shown flashes in isolated innings, but has not sustained success deep into games, something Bove noted remains a work in progress.
Chicago made a roster move prior to the game, designating right-hander Jedixson Paez for assignment, while selecting veteran Lucas Sims from Triple-A Charlotte. Paez had been a Rule 5 Draft pick out of the Red Sox’s organization.
Sims provided stability out of the bullpen, entering in the fourth and tossing two scoreless innings on 31 pitches. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one.
After a strong Spring Training, six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, the right-hander carried that momentum into his first appearance with Chicago.
“Very personable, a lot of energy,” Venable said. “Kind of slow to start there with a little bit of back soreness, and then once we got him going, and in the games, he was really spinning the ball well, throwing strikes. And if he's doing that, he can be very effective. So it was a great spring for him, and [I’m] excited that he's here.”
Even through a difficult 1-5 start to the season, Smith’s message inside the clubhouse has remained consistent as he looks for the numbers to start showing the talent that he sees in Chicago’s clubhouse.
“Just keep at it,” Smith said. “We're all good enough in the locker room to continue to play. Just getting kicked in the mouth for the first six games is always tough -- long road trip. But I think everybody knows kind of what they need to do and show up on a daily basis.”