Pregame notes: White Sox reinstate Tommy Pham, sit Munetaka Murakami for Cleveland finale

The White Sox made a few roster moves before a pivotal season series finale against the Guardians at Progressive Field. As Tuesday's DFA of José Urquidy foreshadowed, the White Sox used that 40-man roster spot to reinstate Drew Thorpe from the 60-day injured list.

They also made a move that wasn't a lock, reinstating Tommy Pham from the 10-day injured list and optioning Edgar Quero to Charlotte. Pham had logged just one plate appearance before hitting the IL for a calf strain, but he's back after a minimal amount of time missed.

He's also batting cleanup, which gives the lineup an air of desperation as they try to mount their best threat against Messick. Another complicating factor is that Messick has reverse splits, to whatever extent you can believe in them:

• vs. RHB: .192/.249/.319
• vs. LHB: .251/.308/.404

That could mean that Messick is stronger against righties, or it could mean that the lefty hitters he faces are predominantly good ones.

Either way, while it's alarming to see Pham hitting fourth in a game of consequence after spending nearly the entire year in Triple-A, at least it's coupled with a day off for Munetaka Murakami, who is hitting .085/.250/.186 with 34 strikeouts over his last 72 plate appearances. He went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and a walk on Tuesday, so those are the shoes Pham is filling.

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Anthony Kay is taking the ball for the White Sox, and without the assist of an opener. Kay bristled at bulk duties earlier in the season, but after failing to complete five innings in any of last four starts, he would have less leverage for objecting.

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First Pitch: White Sox at Guardians

TV: CHSN

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