Look, there could be any number of reasons why all the Japanese reporters who went to Charlotte to cover Munetaka Murakami's rehab assignment were back in the White Sox clubhouse on Thursday morning--Forgot their keys? Left the stove on in their apartment? A deep, throbbing headache that only begins to abate when they take hold of the large replica (presumably) sword that's been sitting on a table in the Sox clubhouse the last several days?
All reasonable answers, but the safe assumption remains that Murakami will be activated on Friday.
"I told [Knights manager] Chad Pinder to make sure he looked good because those games with Rikuu [Nishida] leading off and Mune hitting second, they were going to be all over Japan," said farm director Paul Janish. "Pretty cool for the Charlotte fans, for sure, and I know their front office is excited to have them. He’s looked really good the first couple of days. I’m excited for him and I know the Chicago fans will be excited for him to get back when the time comes."
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Tyler Davis is back on the roster because Trevor Richards was placed on bereavement/family medical emergency leave. Richards has to be off the roster for a minimum of three days, and a maximum of seven, so he's either back Sunday or after the All-Star break.
Davis allowed three runs (two homers) in an inning during one of his four appearances since being optioned to Charlotte, but the other three were scoreless. Walks were the central issue behind his demotion, and he's issued three in 4 2/3 innings since.
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More on this in an article for Friday, but last year's first round pick Billy Carlson will play in the ACL on Saturday in his first game action since suffering a left thumb fracture. The 2024 first-round pick Hagen Smith is throwing his first bullpen on Thursday since going on the injured list for shoulder impingement. Janish projected that William Bergolla Jr. could return to an affiliate from his shin contusion by the end of the month.
Tanner McDougal is bullpen-only for the rest of the season, with an eye on getting him ready to contribute to the major league team this year. Time will tell, but Smith could be in the same boat.
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The Sox are trying to avoid being swept for the fifth time this season, and the first time by the Red Sox since 2017. Their 8-1 loss Wednesday night was their worst home loss of the season to date.
First pitch: White Sox vs. Red Sox
TV: CHSN
Radio: ESPN 1000 AM, 107.9 FM La Ley (Spanish)
Lineups:
| Red Sox | White Sox | |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Seigler, 2B | 1 | Chase Meidroth, 2B |
| Ceddanne Rafaela, CF | 2 | Randal Grichuk, DH |
| Wilyer Abreu, RF | 3 | Miguel Vargas, 1B |
| Romy Gonzalez, DH | 4 | Colson Montgomery, 3B |
| Caleb Durbin, 3B | 5 | Junior Pérez, CF |
| Andruw Monasterio, SS | 6 | Sam Antonacci, LF |
| Nate Eaton, LF | 7 | Braden Montgomery, RF |
| Brett Harris, 1B | 8 | Luisangel Acuña, SS |
| Connor Wong, C | 9 | Drew Romo, C |
| Patrick Sandoval | SP | Anthony Kay |
