Awaiting word on White Sox roster moves; Lucas Giolito back to .500

Matt Davidson

In case you haven't heard, Michael Kopech is pitching for the White Sox on Tuesday. That means he needs to be added to the 40-man roster -- a nonissue, the Sox's roster currently sits at 38 -- and somebody needs to be subtracted from the 25-man roster.

Not sure who that someone is just yet.

I'm also wondering if Leury Garcia is headed back to the disabled list after he reinjured his left hamstring Monday in an 8-5 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Speaking of that victory in Minnesota, Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito earned the win to improve to 9-9.

The right-hander threw a season-high 111 pitches in what was pretty much a league-average sort of outing. He went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked two, but he never relinquished the lead after the Sox scored four runs for him in the top of the second inning.

A lot of observers, including me, predicted at the start of the season that Giolito would lead the Sox in wins. He is, in fact, doing that. With nine wins, he has four more than any other pitcher on the team. (James Shields has five wins.) We just didn't expect Giolito's wins to be coupled with a 6.08 ERA, but hopefully he's better for this experience when the 2019 season begins.

Matt Davidson on Monday went 2 for 5 with his 18th home run of the season and three RBIs, and Jose Abreu added two hits and two RBIs -- including a two-run double that highlighted the four-run second inning.

Juan Minaya had a good outing out of the bullpen. He struck out five of the six Minnesota batters he faced in two perfect innings of relief.

Thyago Vieira, however, continued to struggle. His season ERA is now 7.56 after he allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but hey, that's why you bring him in when the score is 8-3. If he does have a rough time, you still win 8-5.

The Sox now have won five of their past six games. A market correction is due soon, of course, but at 47-77, they at least have a chance of reaching the 60-win plateau. At one point in time, I was worried they might lose 110 or 115 games. It's unlikely it's going to get that bad.