Pregame notes: Measuring stick

Colson Montgomery is a nice player to cover because he's both very good, has been through a prospect journey where everyone could watch him work through and solve problems in his game in real time, and gives thoughtful answers about the process.

But also because while other players might try to downplay a big Crosstown series between winning teams as just another games, he embraces the narrative.

"That's how you kind of gauge yourself, and how you're playing, and how offense is going, and how your pitching is going against a really good team like the Cubs," Montgomery said. "You come into these games and there's a lot--you think there's a lot of pressure and things like that, and no, this is fun. This is where you want to be, this is where you want to play, especially against the Cubs, Chicago, the rivalry and things like that. That's just how I keep my mindset. Just stand in the moment."

⚙️⚙️⚙️

There were a trio of injury updates from Will Venable & Co. and one of them was actually good.

Austin Hays will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Charlotte. That's the good update.

Kyle Teel caught a cleat in the dirt and tweaked his right knee in his final swing of Saturday night's game in Charlotte. So rather than having a view to being activated during this coming road trip, he's sitting on Sunday and will be re-evaluated after the Knights' off day on Monday

"There’s some knee soreness in there that will probably slow him down for a little bit," Venable said. "[Teel's activation is] likely not going to happen in the next series."

Prelander Berroa, who only faced one hitter before leaving in the first game of his rehab assignment with the ACL White Sox earlier this week, is experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired right elbow. So he's been returned from his rehab assignment for the time being.

Tommy John surgery rehab--not as automatic as it's often portrayed to be.

⚙️⚙️⚙️

Venable tries to stay pretty locked on the game the whole way, but it can be hard to when the dugout is...being as weird as they are.

"I’m locked in, but it’s hard not to see some of it," Venable said. "But it’s exciting. It’s one of those things for me, when good things happen, that’s great. But to me, it’s the way they continue to have that same spirit when maybe things aren’t going well or when we lose. That’s what makes me proud of the group, that’s what makes me confident that whatever the results are going to be, our group is going to be in the fight from start to finish."

From outside observation, Miguel Vargas' home run celebrations involve:

• Crawling around on all fours
• Barking like a chihuahua while going through a line of high-fives
• A brief coordinated dance with Edgar Quero

"The guys put me in a lot of situations out there every time," Vargas said. "I'm just trying to have fun out there and enjoy a little bit of the game and have fun."

Over the last month, the White Sox lead all of baseball in home runs, runs per game, on base percentage and slugging. Which brings to mind that Montgomery said a lot of thoughtful things about Vargas' dedication to his hitting routine, but his last line sums up everything best:

"He's been banging."

⚙️⚙️⚙️

For my money, Davis Martin has been pretty good when he appears on the broadcast and has the combination of wit, humor and insight to be pretty good media presence himself one day, if he doesn't opt to be a strength coach instead.

Instead, Martin is in awe of Mike Vasil's command of the screen.

"He's a celebrity, he’s our personal celebrity," Martin said. "We understood [Tommy John surgery] was a huge blow not only from the talent perspective, but from a personality perspective. The fact we got to keep him in the clubhouse, I think he’s been the glue guy on our team.

He brings together so many types of players with his energy and he’s consistent every night, and I don’t think anybody understands how hard it is to go through Tommy John and be on a baseball field and reminded you can’t play every night. I give him a lot of credit for not only understanding where he’s at and bringing that energy every night even though he’s going through a tough time in his baseball career."

First pitch: White Sox vs. Cubs

TV: CHSN, WCIU, Marquee (Cubs)

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM, 107.9 FM La Ley (Spanish), 104.3 FM The Score (Cubs)

Lineups: