Pregame notes: White Sox ready to expand roster in Houston

If you're concerned about how the famously intense Tommy Pham will mesh with the free-spirited White Sox clubhouse, Will Venable isn't.

"There’s a real value to how he approaches things," Venable told reporters before tonight's game against the Astros at Daikin Field in Houston. "And that edge that he’s got is real. I think it also works in a lot of different types of environments. I think our environment especially, with young guys, who many of these guys are seeing these things and feeling these things as we go down the stretch for the first time, and to have someone who not only has been there, but goes about his business with the right kind of edge that helps you get through these types of moments I think is going to be huge for us."

Venable overlapped with Pham during each's one season with the Red Sox in 2022 and called him "one of my favorite players to coach." He said Pham will likely be in the lineup against left-handed starters, and back up Randal Grichuk as a pinch-hitter when teams go to lefty relievers after a right-handed starter.

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Pham wasn't the only outfielder with major league experience added before the postseason roster deadline. The White Sox also acquired Jake Cave from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash. Like Pham, Cave wasn't on a 40-man roster, which made him eligible for a trade after the deadline. And since he was acquired before Sept. 1, he's eligible for a postseason roster.

It's harder to see Cave getting such a call, though. He last appeared in the majors with Colorado in 2024, when he hit .251/.290/.396 over 123 games. He played for Doosan in the KBO in 2025, and opened the season in the Mexican League before joining the Rays at Triple-A Durham. He hit .249/.339/.373 over 36 games with the Bulls.

"What his opportunity looks like with us up here in the future, can’t tell you, don’t really know," Venable said.

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In bullpen news, the White Sox rotated their Tylers, reinstated Tyler Schweitzer from the paternity list and optioning Tyler Gilbert back to Charlotte. James Fegan relayed that Tanner McDougal is in the house, and the plan is for him to be activated Tuesday.

Jordan Leasure will not be part of any bullpen plans through the 2027 season. The White Sox announced that he underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month, and the target is for a return in spring 2028.

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First Pitch: White Sox at Astros

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