The White Sox haven't been a punchline this spring. They've taken 10 of their last 14, just stomped the Padres on the road, and arrive at the Big A with the kind of momentum no one outside the South Side saw coming. The Angels, meanwhile, are 13-22 and firmly on pace for the first 100-loss season in franchise history.
Anaheim's rotation is being held together with athletic tape. Yusei Kikuchi just hit the IL with shoulder inflammation, Grayson Rodriguez is still sim-game-ing his way back, and Alek Manoah's last rehab outing in Rancho Cucamonga was a six-run, seven-hit disaster over 4.1 innings. The bullpen is no better — Joyce, Yates, and Stephenson are all parked, with Stephenson done for the year after elbow surgery.
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILKyle Teel C — Teel (hamstring) will run the bases this weekend before beginning a rehab assignment next week if all goes well, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — The White Sox placed Hays on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Saturday, due to a left calf strain.
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira RF — The White Sox placed Pereira on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a right pectoral strain.
- 60-Day-ILMike Vasil RP — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
- 60-Day-ILTanner Murray LF — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin LF — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
- 60-Day-ILKy Bush SP — The White Sox placed Bush (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Feb. 10.
- 10-Day-ILLogan O'Hoppe C — O'Hoppe (wrist) began catching off a machine, hitting on the field and running the bases Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILTravis d'Arnaud C — The Angels placed d'Arnaud on the 10-day injured list Friday with right foot plantar fasciitis.
- 15-Day-ILBen Joyce RP — Joyce (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday, Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILGrayson Rodriguez SP — Rodriguez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw up to five innings during a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILYusei Kikuchi SP — Kikuchi (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for 3-to-4 weeks, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILRyan Johnson SP — Johnson (hamstring/illness) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILRobert Stephenson RP — The Angels announced that Stephenson underwent ligament and flexor repair surgery on his right elbow Wednesday and is likely to miss the remainder of the season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILAnthony Rendon 3B — The Angels placed Rendon (hip) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
The lineup card doesn't help either. Anthony Rendon is on the 60-day with the hip, and Logan O'Hoppe is still playing catch with a bad wrist, leaving the offense leaning hard on Trout and Ward to carry water. Over the last 10 games the Halos are hitting .250 as a team with a 6.05 ERA and have been outscored by 23 runs. That's not a slump, that's a roster problem.
Chicago's edge is on the mound. Erick Fedde has been the best version of himself this season, his sweeper carving up righties at a 27% whiff rate, and the Sox staff has generally given them a chance to play with their lead. The bats aren't scary on paper — .226 team average — but they've already put 40 balls over the wall, which travels in any park.
Bottom line: a hot road team gets a banged-up home team that can't pitch and can't score. The Halos still have José Soriano lurking later in this series with a sub-1.00 ERA, but tonight is the kind of game the White Sox should be expected to take.