Pregame notes: Mike Tauchman returns to the lineup

As you might glean from the headline, Tauchman is back in the lineup after missing four games with right groin discomfort. For now, it looks like the White Sox might be rewarded for avoiding a quick injured list placement after Tauchman felt his groin "lock up" on him during a contact play in the ninth inning of last Thursday's doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Cardinals.

But any close watcher of this team--and why else would you be here--has probably noticed that Tauchman has been limited on the basepaths after two hamstring strains, and that figures to continue.

"This is certainly unique in the amount of kind of soft tissue issues that I’ve had," Tauchman said. "I’ve been pretty fortunate in my career, put a lot of effort into staying on the field, playing a certain style of baseball. Not being able to completely play that way this year has been frustrating, and a little bit mentally taxing."

"My whole life, it's been: Hit the ball, run like hell, take extra bases, do all this stuff. And I felt like I was working back toward that before Thursday. It hasn't been where I wanted it to be, but I'm still trying to contribute on the bases and take advantage of things, like when I feel I can get an extra step or two on a leadoff or on a secondary lead to try to close the distance down or anticipate a dirt ball here or there. It's been frustrating, but it's kind of continued to be kind of a work in progress."

Tauchman praised the White Sox strength and training staff for their work through his injuries, and they'll surely be put up to the test going forward, as it sounds like he'll be reintroduced into the outfield eventually.

"Just want to give him a chance to ease back into it," Will Venable said. "hH and for a couple of our other guys, using that spot as a way to get guys off their feet is something we will definitely do. Certainly Tauch is someone we want to make sure we are caring for the right way and that he has had these injuries and we know how valuable he is to us. We will see him at DH. Others can benefit from that as well. We’ll take it day by day."

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The White Sox announced Tuesday morning that they had signed 32-year-old right-hander Noah Syndergaard to a minor league deal, and that he's already reported to their complex in Arizona. While Venable was unaware that he's 3-for-6 lifetime against Syndergaard, including a two-run triple back in 2015, he did know that he'll need to be stretched out and take on the team's plan for getting back to form before he's in discussion to join the roster.

For this writer's money, Syndergaard hasn't really been Thor since 2018. For the 2025 White Sox's needs, his 2022 version would probably be a dream outcome.

"He has tried to do a lot of – make a lot of adjustments over the last couple years and kind of big changes and has really been searching," Venable said. "Without knowing what the history of all that is, I think for us, it's just gonna be about simplifying his mix and getting him downhill and just sinker, slider, just trying to keep it simple."

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Jordan Leasure is opening Tuesday night. If he is absolutely rolling, he might get brought back out for the second inning. Mike Vasil will probably pitch more than him, since he's already walking out to the bullpen.

"I think it’s been clear, the stuff plays," Venable said of Leasure, who is striking out 27.2 percent of hitters. "He was walking a lot of lefties there and he’s gotten much better recently against the lefties. He’s continuing to grow and in every situation he’s been put in, he’s answered the bell and continued to get better."

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Connor McKnight is filling in for John Schriffen on play-by-play for the next two games.

First pitch: White Sox vs. Diamondbacks

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM

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