There’s no getting around how big a loss Aaron Bummer is to the White Sox bullpen.
And there’s no getting around how big a gain someone like Matt Foster could be.
Granted, Bummer is a left-hander and Foster a righty who hasn’t ascended to game-on-the-line situations as Bummer is paid for, but any strength in numbers the Sox can cobble together to get through however long Bummer (biceps soreness) is more than welcome.
“He’s fearless,” manager Rick Renteria said of Foster, whose introduction to the major leagues has been nearly flawless.
And fearless.
Renteria said Foster, 25-year-old 20th-round Sox draft choice in 2016, pitches with “guts.”
“Fearlessness allows you to … you’re not proceeding with caution,” Renteria said. “You’re trusting your stuff … you know what you’re doing. Guts simply means a fearlessness and a tremendous trust in your ability, which allows you to do what you do.”
In 7 1/3 innings covering five appearances, Foster hasn’t allowed a run and has struck out 13 of 26 batters faced. He has allowed two hits and two walks. A riding 94-mph four-seam fastball, well-located thus far, and very good changeup have been key, with an occasional slider thrown into the mix. Lefties are 0-for-9 against him.
“That’s definitely something I developed professionally over time,” he said of the “ride” on his fastball. “I’ve never been a spin rate kind of person, looking at stats and numbers, until the last year or two when I started to see the kind of life I have on the fastball. It plays really well off the changeup so I can kind of go up and then go down with the change.”
Foster was tabbed as the opener on a Sox bullpen day Saturday and did his job, pitching two scoreless innings. In the Sox’ 8-4 win over the Tigers Tuesday that halted a three-game losing streak, he pitched a perfect sixth and seventh, recording four strikeouts.
Zack Burdi, another rookie cutting his teeth, pitched his second scoreless inning Tuesday, touching 98-99 mph. Codi Heuer (4.26 ERA) has had his moments, bringing upper 90s heat.
As Renteria said of those young arms, “they’re building their confidence to be able to deal with high leverage situations.”
“Every day I just go out there expecting if I get in the game, I’m going to go do the best I can and try to give my team the best shot to win the ballgame,” Foster said.
Day off for Moncada
Yoan Moncada has been dealing with unspecified soreness, and as Renteria said Tuesday night, the third baseman got the day off Wednesday afternoon.
“He’s been pushing through and grinding out,” Renteria said. “We’ll be able to take advantage [of two days off with the off day Thursday]. Being able to get him hopefully today and tomorrow the natural day off it will be good for him physically. We’re working through it.”
Ailing pitcher updates
Right-hander Reynaldo López (shoulder) will pitch probably two innings in a simulated game in Schaumburg later this week, Renteria said. Lefty Carlos Rodón (shoulder) is still limited to playing catch. Aaron Bummer (biceps) is “loosening up” and receiving treatment.
Cardinals coming
The starting pitcher for Friday when the Sox open a seven-game homestand against the Cardinals is TBA. It will likely be an opener and is up in the air, which is status quo for any game scheduled against the Cardinals who have not played since July 29 because of multiple positive coronavirus tests.
“Yeah, really nobody knows right?” Renteria said. “They’ve been down for a while. We don’t know who’s on the staff in terms of players. We have to navigate and keep it fluid till we have a better understanding of who is going to be there and then we will make our decision.”
