The Chicago White Sox will try to end another four-game losing streak when they open a three-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians on Monday.
The White Sox just dropped four straight games to the Royals, just the third time Kansas City swept a four-game series against Chicago.
Chicago, which lost four straight to open the season, is 1-8 overall and 0-7 against the American League Central.
“Between now and (Game) 162, there’s a lot of peaks and valleys you’ve got to navigate through,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said before Sunday’s game against the Royals, where his team blew a 3-0 lead and lost 5-3. “What you’ve got to do is have that confidence and consistency, knowing that at the end of it all, this is where I’m going to be. This is who I am.”
Chicago will be without outfielder Eloy Jimenez, who went on the 10-day injured list on Friday after straining his adductor muscle while running out a grounder on March 31. He has missed the past six games. Grifol hoped Jimenez could have returned sometime this series.
Jimenez was fourth on the White Sox with 18 home runs in 120 games last season. He was also third on the team with 64 RBIs.
“We’ll just slow him down and make sure he gets his seven days and just get him right,” Grifol said. “We think that slowing this down and taking our time with it, there’s a really good chance that we can be done with it. He’ll continue to do his stuff, but not with the same urgency.”
Grifol was still undecided on his starting pitcher for the series opener, but the White Sox will likely recall a player from the minors.
The Guardians, who will be playing their home opener, had an extra day of rest after they were rained out in Minnesota on Sunday.
Triston McKenzie was scheduled to start the series finale against the Twins, but the right-hander was bumped to the home opener on Monday.
McKenzie (0-1, 10.80 ERA) will aim for a better performance than what he delivered in his season debut last Monday, when he allowed five runs (four earned) and four hits in 3 1/3 innings of a 5-4 loss to the host Seattle Mariners.
“I wish I would have been better,” McKenzie said. “I think (the loss) is a good step forward, and we’re looking forward from here.”
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was just happy to have a healthy McKenzie on the mound after injuries limited him to just four starts covering 16 innings last season.
“It was great to see him go out there and throw and feel good coming off the mound,” Vogt said. “He just lost his command there for a little bit, but good to see him out there. To go out and feel healthy, it’s always a good thing.”
McKenzie went 11-11 in 2022 with a 2.96 ERA. He struck out 190 batters in 191 1/3 innings.
He has made 10 appearances (nine starts) against the White Sox in his career and is 2-2 with a 5.64 ERA.
Remaining healthy is especially key for McKenzie after Saturday’s announcement that 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber would need season-ending elbow surgery.
The Guardians recalled right-hander Peter Strzelecki from Triple-A Columbus to fill Bieber’s roster spot.
