GLENDALE, Ariz. -- There were a number of games among Lucas Giolito’s 32 starts during the 2018 season in which, he admitted, he had only one pitch he could throw with confidence for strikes.

So, Spring Training 2019 brings a stark contrast for the White Sox right-hander -- feeling good about all his pitches. He pointed once again to his curve feeling “10 times better” following Friday’s 82-pitch, five-inning effort in an 11-9 Cactus League loss to the Cubs.

“Going out there and the biggest thing is just the confidence,” said Giolito, who struck out seven, including four in the first inning following a wild pitch on a third strike. “Seeing my stuff better, seeing just the feel for everything is better. So, it’s like automatic confidence.

“Knowing that my stuff is there, and I don’t have to worry about, 'I have to sink it today because there’s no life or I can’t throw this pitch.' Knowing that stuff is there gives you that confidence to attack guys.”

Giolito also was in the 95 mph range on the Camelback Ranch scoreboard.

“My stuff's right where I want it to be,” Giolito said. “I'm very happy with how I'm throwing the ball.”

White Sox make two moves
The White Sox outrighted reliever Juan Minaya to Triple-A Charlotte and reassigned him to Minor League camp on Friday. They also reassigned Randall Delgado to Minor League camp.

Minaya struggled mightily during Spring Training, posting a 21.21 ERA over five Cactus League appearances, yielding 11 runs on 12 hits and six walks over 4 2/3 innings. The move also dropped the White Sox 40-man roster to 39, leaving a potential spot for Ervin Santana as part of the starting rotation.

Santana, who will earn $4.3 million as part of the big league roster, allowed one run on one hit over five innings in a "B" game against the Padres on Friday, striking out three, walking one and throwing 45 of his 69 pitches for strikes. The veteran was slowed last year after surgery on his right middle finger but has felt good in camp, although he has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game.

A fifth starter won’t be needed by the White Sox until April 10 at home against the Rays, with off-days on March 29, April 5 and April 11. General manager Rick Hahn spoke Wednesday about potentially going without a fifth until that time.

“Is it possible? It’s possible,” manager Rick Renteria said. “It’s not locked in yet.”

Delmonico getting close
Nicky Delmonico hoped Friday would be his last day in MLB’s concussion protocol after he sustained a minor concussion when colliding with the left-field wall at Camelback Ranch in a game on March 7.

“I ran in the weight room, did a bunch of agility stuff. Bumped it up and then going out today and going through everything,” Delmonico said. “Hitting on the side, throwing, stretching with the team, which feels nice.

“After that, hopefully, everything is good. Then take the test and then after that you got a couple of days of normal routine and then, hopefully, back in the lineup.”

Delmonico is in competition for the left-field slot with Daniel Palka and Leury Garcia. He also would have a better chance of making the team as a bench player if the White Sox go without a fifth starter at the season’s outset and take an extra position player.

Renteria talks rule changes
Renteria was not surprised by some of the proposed 2019 rule changes announced by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association on Thursday, including the maximum number of mound visits per team being reduced from six to five.

“I don’t know anybody has ever used six during the course of a season,” Renteria said. “That’s maybe why they dropped it down to five. You still have to be effective in your visits.”

A proposed 2020 rule requires starting pitchers and relief pitchers to pitch to either a minimum of three batters or the end of a half-inning, with exceptions of incapacitating injury or illness. That rule only reinforces developing pitchers who can do the best job on both sides of the box, per Renteria.

“It’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Renteria said. “Might limit some of the specialty type usage. But everybody will ultimately deal with the rule and do the best of taking advantage of whatever they can.”

They said it
“Say I have two outs and nobody on with that batter. I'll work on my fastball command, not necessarily worry about giving up runs or giving up hits. I'm really just trying to grind out the inefficiencies I have in my game.” -- Jace Fry, on his Spring Training plan.

Up next
The resident teams of Camelback Ranch battle it out on Saturday, with the White Sox playing host to the Dodgers for a 3:05 p.m. CT first pitch. The game will be televised by NBC Sports Chicago, with Ivan Nova getting the start. Kelvin Herrera, Aaron Bummer and Caleb Frare also are scheduled to pitch.