Pregame notes: No way they do this, right?

It's all on the line on a Sunday getaway day before a six-game Texas road trip. If the White Sox win, they:

--Sweep a series for the first time all season

--Record their first four-game winning streak of the season

--Sweep the Royals for the first time since May 2023

--Even their home record to 17-17, after winning just 23 home games last season

--Win four-straight against the AL Central for the first time since September 2022

Wow, it's been a rough last few years, huh?

Logistically, the White Sox aren't necessarily pushing all their chips in for this game considering that they bounced their likely All-Star Game representative to Tuesday for extra rest, and are giving Mike Vasil his first start since last September in Triple-A. Naturally, Vasil threw four innings of one-run ball against the Charlotte Knights in that outing.

"[Vasil]'s been doing a tremendous job in so many different roles," said Chris Getz. "He's stretched out to three innings at this point. I think he's been up to close to 60 pitches, if not 60 pitches. He's a guy that can take the bulk of work. We've got to be creative through this period until Jonathan is back."

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The White Sox are wheeling-and-dealing! They've signed another Brewers cast-off, agreeing to a one-year, $760K deal with lefty swingman Tyler Alexander. The longtime former Tiger (born in Chicago) was designated for assignment by Milwaukee a week ago due to a career-worst 6.19 ERA, but his peripherals (3.56 FIP, 4.68 xERA) are more rosterable.

He's not much for stuff, but is known to put the baseball where it's intended. If you're trying to figure what Alexander's role will be, Jared Shuster going to the injured list for a blister to make room for him on the active roster is a fairly significant hint. Fraser Ellard, who has been throwing but is still ways away from being ready to return from his lat strain, was added to the 60-day IL.

Ryan Cusick, designated for assignment on Friday to make room for Kyle Teel on the 40-man roster, was claimed off waivers by the Phillies. He did not throw a pitch in the White Sox organization.

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The White Sox have giving Will Venable Sunday mornings off from media sessions, and sliding in other officials in his place. It's been a useful method of hearing from Brian Bannister, Ryan Fuller, Marcus Thames, Ethan Katz and Walker McKinven, and this Sunday was the day to find out what the hell Grady Sizemore has been doing as the "offensive coordinator."

Per Sizemore's description, where he talks like he's an extra set of eyes and ears for both hitting, baserunning and outfield instruction, it seems like running it back with his nebulous "Major League Coach" title from last season would have caused less confusion.

"The title really doesn't mean anything," Sizemore said. "You're trying to be an asset for these players. I didn't really care what the role was, or what the name was, I just kind of want to do anything I can to make an impact. I try to piggyback off of what Will and Walker and those guys are looking for offensively, then come up with a game plan with Marcus and Joel [McKeithan]."

Such a title wouldn't allow as many opportunities for Sizemore to riff on being an offensive coordinator, though.

"I've got to get a good script going every day," Sizemore joked. "For a while, our red zone offense was terrible. A lot of fourth down conversations not going our way."

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That lunatic Brooks Baldwin is nuking Triple-A pitching: .365/.420/.762 with six homers in 15 games.

"We've asked a lot of Brooks, whether it be bouncing around the diamond, on the infield and the outfield," Getz said. "He's gotten the majority of his work in the outfield and a matter of fact in center field, so we feel like it's a good opportunity for him to get as many reps as possible out there. Offensively he's performed really well. He is an aggressive hitter. We've seen that. He's continued to do that. We're focused on honing in an approach that we know is going to translate up here on a more sustainable basis. But most importantly, just get him comfortable on the defensive side. His time will come and he'll rejoin the team, I would imagine in the near future."

First pitch: White Sox vs. Royals

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM, WRTO 1200 AM (Spanish)

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