Noah Schultz still part of White Sox' plans this season, despite demotion

Rookie left-hander Noah Schultz is still in the White Sox’ big-league plans this season, just not right now.

Pitching coach Zach Bove said the Sox expect Schultz, whom they optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, to pitch for them later in the year and hopefully in the playoffs. With the team pushing for that playoff spot and Schultz struggling, the time was right to give him a reset.

“If you look back at the innings, the injuries over the years, this guy hasn’t had a full season,” Bove said Sunday before the series finale against the Guardians. “He’s 23 years old, has been a top prospect, all of that comes with it. But he’s still getting into his own. You saw that up here, the flashes of, ‘Man, this guy can be really good,’ and then some inconsistencies.”

Those flashes include four outings in which he allowed one run or fewer in at least five innings. Overall, Schultz has allowed 44 earned runs in 65 ⅓ innings (6.06 ERA).

Another issue is Schultz matching his career high in innings for a season (88 ⅓) with the one-third of an inning he threw Friday — though the short start was because of manager Will Venable mistakenly making a second mound visit.

“Noah’s obviously a big part of our future,” Bove said, “but use this time as a reset, work on some specific things, but also get used to the grind of a season, 130, 140 innings.”

What are those specific things?

“The slot’s gotten a little lower, a little scoopier, which then affects the four-seam [fastball], doesn’t have much ride,” Bove said. “I think getting the slot a little more upright, a little taller in the setup, adds [vertical break] to the four-seam. It helps the whole arsenal play out in that east-west range.”

Schultz, who will be in Charlotte’s rotation, seems more comfortable throwing side to side than up and down. But the Sox think he’ll miss more bats by having north-south options.

“It allows [pitches] to get above and below the barrel,” Bove said. “Having something that goes above the barrel with the four-seam and below the barrel with the slider, curveball, adds another element to the mix.”

The Kay to his success

Left-hander Anthony Kay has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts, a span in which he has a 2.96 ERA in 45 ⅔ innings. He allowed two runs in six innings Saturday against the Guardians, both coming in the sixth. Bove credits Kay’s changeup to his success.

“No. 1, being able to land it,” Bove said. “The guys have to respect that, which then makes that cutter, the four-seam up and in to the righties play up even more. And then being able to land the sweeper specifically.

“If he’s landing the changeup and the sweeper, I think it slows them down to make the four-seam and the cutter play up even more.”

Notes

Second baseman Chase Meidroth wasn’t in the lineup Sunday because his left wrist was bothering him. He was available off the bench and should be back in the lineup Tuesday for the series opener against the Reds at Rate Field.

• Right-handers Sean Burke and Luis Castillo are set to start the first two games of the Reds series. The starter for Thursday is to be determined. The Reds will counter with lefty Nick Lodolo, righty Rhett Lowder and lefty Andrew Abbott.

• The Sox have drawn 30,000-plus fans 18 times this season, matching their total from 2023 to ’25. It’s their most since 2022 (20). They entered Sunday averaging 24,404, compared with 17,812 at the same point last season.

Latest on the White sox

White Sox lefty Hagen Smith, team's No. 2 prospect, making major-league debut

Smith is following Davis Martin, who pitched one inning Sunday against the Guardians before the game was delayed by rain.

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]

By  Jeff Agrest

read

Guardians-White Sox series finale delayed by rain in second inning

After trying to play through the rain, the umpires gave up. Before the start of the second inning at Rate Field, they called for the tarp.

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]

By  Jeff Agrest

read

White Sox add Hagen Smith and Tanner McDougal, beat Guardians to restore three-game AL Central lead

The Sox scored five times in the sixth inning to snap a season-high four-game losing streak.

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]

By  Brian Sandalow

read

White Sox officially retire Ozzie Guillen's No. 13

In a ceremony that came with laughs, some gentle roasting and more, Guillen’s number was permanently shelved by the Sox.

[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]

By  Brian Sandalow

read

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Chicago Sun-Times. Open at source →