Pregame notes: Multiple roster moves of limited impact

The last season in which veteran righty Dan Altavilla posted a below-average big league ERA, Yolmer Sánchez led the White Sox in games played. So there's a certain logic to treating the results of his first 21 appearances simply as found money, especially since his 1.54 ERA over that time seemed a little (5.24 FIP) too good to be true.

Still, for a 32-year-old hard-thrower who has been bedeviled by walks for his entire career, it seemed like the Sox had found something for him to have only issued eight free passes over his first 23 1/3 innings. For the first time in his career, Altavilla was making significant use of a changeup and seemed to be making use of the increased room to operate that the armside movement gave him.

"One of the things that Ethan [Katz] and I identified with him in spring training is that it’s something he needs to throw more of," said assistant pitching coach Matt Wise. "It took a little bit of time. He’s always been a slider guy. So convincing him that his changeup is a weapon, specifically helped against lefties. Now he’s fully bought in."

Altavilla going on the injured list for a lat strain certainly isn't good at all, but it serves to explain why his biggest note of progress has evaporated over his last four times out: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, K, 2 HBP, WP.

Owen White was recalled to take Altavilla's spot, but he's more of a multi-inning option than an occasional leverage arm.

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It probably would have chafed to see Ryan Noda get first base at-bats while Curtis Mead and Tim Elko are in the minors, but worry not, he was placed on waivers and the Orioles claimed him.

Jesse Scholtens, who blew out in spring 2024 and has been on Tommy John rehab ever since, finally had his assignment ended. He remains in Charlotte, because the Sox optioned him there.

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Mike Trout is out of the lineup with an illness for the second-straight night. Chase Meidroth, who I like to think is analogous to Trout, is out of the lineup for the second-straight night as well, and hasn't taken an at-bat since he took a pitch off the thumb on Wednesday.

There have been a lot of changes in American society over the past few years that make this world feel unfamiliar. One of them is that Lenyn Sosa has a 105 wRC+ on the season and on the strength of his 2025 alone, is a positive WAR player for his career.

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Miguel Vargas was a last-minute scratch from the lineup.

First pitch: White Sox at Angels

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM

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