WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF APRIL

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF APRIL 25, 2016 Navarro's value goes deeper than numbers Scott Merkin, MLB.com Latos moves to 4-0 as White Sox sweep Rangers Scott Merkin and T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com Danks pushed back as Gonzalez starts Monday Scott Merkin, MLB.com Start voting to send Melky, Eaton to All-Star Game Scott Merkin, MLB.com White Sox Bring Up Miguel Gonzalez To Start Monday Against Blue Jays JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago White Sox: Kevan Smith Soaking In Promotion To Majors JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago White Sox Hope Avisail Garcia Can Find Consistency In Majors Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago Mat Latos Stays Hot As White Sox Complete Sweep Of Rangers Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago Mat Latos, Dioner Navarro help lift White Sox to sweep of Rangers Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune New White Sox catcher Kevan Smith ready to suit up when necessary Paul Skrbina, Chicago Tribune No more waiting on John Danks for White Sox Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune Gonzalez will start for Sox Monday vs. Jays; Danks pushed back Toni Ginnetti, Chicago Sun-Times White Sox complete sweep of Rangers, improve to 13-6 Toni Ginnetti, Chicago Sun-Times Mat Latos improves to 4-0 as White Sox beat Rangers the Associated Press Chicago White Sox bringing up Gonzalez to start against Toronto Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Navarro's value goes deeper than numbers White Sox catcher homers, drives in 2, but impresses with game calling By Scott Merkin / MLB.com April 24th, 2016 CHICAGO -- There's little concern from Mat Latos with regards to Dioner Navarro's batting average, which sits at.129 following a 4-1 White Sox victory Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Rangers. The switch-hitting catcher is going to produce -- he didn't run into a.253 career ledger with smoke and mirrors. But in the mind of the 4-0 hurler, Navarro is of value to the White Sox no matter what he does with the bat. "I would much rather have him behind the plate defensively and have him in there calling the game more than him hitting. We've got other guys in the lineup that can take care of that as well," said Latos, who has a 0.74 ERA this season while throwing all 24 1/3 innings to Navarro. "Even if he's struggling, he's still helping the team out behind the plate. "That's a guy who calls a game consistently and he knows hitters. He knows what he's doing. So if he's slumping, he's slumping, but he's still helping out either way with him calling a great game. We are throwing up zeros, giving the team a chance to win." Navarro met his offense-oriented and game-calling targets in a win that completed a 5-2 homestand for the South Siders. He launched a solo homer to left off Derek Holland with one out in the third, marking his first hit as a right-hander this season while tying the game at 1. In the fifth, Navarro delivered a sacrifice fly that put the White Sox up by two runs. He'll get a chance for more consistent at-bats with Alex Avila moving to the disabled list due to a sore right hamstring.

2 "What you see is what you get. I'm always going to be the same guy whether I'm in the lineup or not," Navarro said. "Try to motivate the guys if I'm not. Try to help the team to win if I'm in the lineup. "My hitting, no worries. I know I can hit. It was just a matter of time. I'm going to have a little more playing time, so go out there and do my job. That's it. That's the bottom line." Navarro gave most of the credit for Sunday's Texas shutdown to Latos. The veteran hurler, who has allowed 14 earned runs over 73 career innings throwing to Navarro (1.73 ERA), throws the plaudits back to Navarro for helping him navigate the six innings of seven-hit baseball against a good lineup. "He gives me confidence, that's what it is. He puts confidence in pitchers the way he calls games," Latos said. "There are times where I've been on the mound and I'm looking at him going, 'Why are we throwing this pitch right here?' "But I'm still throwing it and still getting outs. I don't want to say questioning him, but it's more maybe I would have gone with something different, but it's still getting outs. That, to me, shows a guy who really knows how to call the game." Latos moves to 4-0 as White Sox sweep Rangers By Scott Merkin and T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com April 24th, 2016 CHICAGO Mat Latos won his fourth straight start as a member of the White Sox, as the South Siders completed a three-game sweep of the Rangers with a 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Field. This White Sox sweep marked their first one at home of the Rangers since July 3-5, 2012, and ran their record to 5-2 on the first homestand. "Without the days off and things like that, this is a tough series," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You get L.A. that comes in here, they have a lot of offense. I think our pitchers did a tremendous job of being able to go through two high-powered offenses and give us a chance to win some games. We break even with the Angels and get this one with the Rangers -- our guys are pitching at a high level right now." Latos wasn't quite as dominant as his first three starts, when he gave up just six hits over 18 1/3 innings. The Rangers had at least one man on base in every inning but the second, but they only scored off Latos via a Nomar Mazara home run in the first inning. The right-hander struck out two and walked two over 109 pitches, giving way to Zach Duke after six innings. "Any time you look at a series like this, if you don't put the big runs across the plate or have multiple runs across in an inning, that's what you look at," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "It's tough to lose three here, but they've got some good starting pitching and they played some good defense." "My plan is to go out there and attack and throw strikes and put zeros up on the board," Latos said. "Every fifth day I go out there, I want to command the zone down, I want to mix my slider for strikes, I want to throw the curveball over for strikes, throw the split in there when I need to and put zeros on the board." Derek Holland turned in a quality start for the Rangers, but the White Sox were able to piece together enough offense to equal their best start since 2006 with a 13-6 record. Dioner Navarro launched his first homer with the White Sox, and a 1-1 tie was broken in the fifth when a wild pitch scored Melky Cabrera and Brett Lawrie scored on a Navarro sacrifice fly. The White Sox are the first team in the American League to reach 13 wins. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Lawrie stokes the fire: Lawrie continues to produce in key situations for the White Sox. He robbed Ryan Rua of a hit with one out in the second, scored a run in the fifth and delivered a clutch two-out single in the eighth to bring home an insurance run.

3 Rua guns down Frazier: Todd Frazier, batting with two outs in the fourth, ripped a line drive into the leftfield corner. Rua played the ball well out of the corner and made a strong throw to second. Frazier tried to slide around the tag of second baseman Rougned Odor, reaching out with his left arm for the base. He was initially safe but became disengaged with the bag and was called out. Pitching in: Latos' outing meant the White Sox three starting pitchers in this series combined for 19 2/3 innings while allowing three earned runs on 13 hits. The starts by Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and Latos all were of the quality variety against an offense that entered the series leading the league in runs scored, limiting the Rangers to 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position, and a 1-for-10 showing Sunday in that area. Twin twin-killings: The Rangers had runners at the corners with one out in both the fifth and sixth innings. Both times Latos got an inning-ending double play. Prince Fielder ended the fifth with a doubleplay grounder at second baseman Lawrie. Latos started the double play in the sixth by fielding Rua's grounder back to the mound. "The ball hit by Rua, he made a nice play on," Banister said. QUOTABLE "I know it definitely takes us into Toronto on a high note being that Toronto does have a good lineup. So keep winning ballgames and it definitely helps going into tougher series." -- Latos "It was too cold." -- Navarro, on his slow start at the plate SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Rua had two assists in left field for the Rangers. The only Rangers outfielder to have three in a game was Cecil Espy in He was also playing left field. WHAT'S NEXT Rangers: Texas opens up a three-game series with the Yankees on Monday at Globe Life Park in Arlington at 7:05 p.m. CT. The Rangers took five of seven from the Yankees last season. Cesar Ramos will make his first start of the season for the Rangers. White Sox: Miguel Gonzalez will make his first start with the White Sox in the opener of their three-game set in Toronto on Monday at 6:07 p.m. CT. Danks pushed back as Gonzalez starts Monday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com April 24th, 2016 CHICAGO -- Miguel Gonzalez will make his White Sox debut Monday night in Toronto, with the White Sox optioning right-handed pitcher Erik Johnson to Triple-A Charlotte following a 4-1 victory over the Rangers on Sunday. The veteran right-hander, who pitched four years for the Orioles and agreed to a Minor League deal with the White Sox on the day prior to Opening Day, basically takes the turn of John Danks with all other starters moving back one day. All 246 career appearances for the 31-year-old Danks have come as a starter, but the team-first veteran served as the emergency reliever for Sunday's homestand finale at U.S. Cellular Field, though he wasn't needed to pitch. Danks said that he's scheduled to pitch during the first game at Camden Yards in Baltimore, which is Thursday. "Something can change between now and then, but other than that, I'm available," Danks said. "I'll just do some work, and if there's a situation that comes up that I can help, I'm available to do that."

4 Through three starts this season, Danks has a 0-3 record with a 6.23 ERA. He has a career 2-3 record with a 7.27 ERA over seven starts at Rogers Centre, which explains the rotation adjustment, and is 1-2 with a 4.25 ERA in five starts at Camden Yards. In his start Thursday against the Angels, Danks bobbed and weaved out of trouble to allow two runs on five hits over six innings. He also walked five, which was as troubling as Danks pitching out of trouble signaled a step in the right direction. "I feel fine. Just have to be better," Danks said. "That's the way it is, be more effective, be more consistent. It's not anything I didn't know. Shoot, ready to go, ready for Baltimore." Gonzalez, 31, has allowed three runs in 11 innings for Charlotte. He was a scratch from his Friday night start in preparation for Monday. Adding Gonzalez means adding his guaranteed money in making the Majors again. He has a 3-2 record and a 2.82 ERA at Rogers Centre during eight appearances and seven starts for the Orioles, while posting a mark and a 3.94 ERA at Camden Yards. This move also presents a number of future questions, such as whether Gonzalez will stay in the rotation, and if Danks eventually moves to the bullpen, who is the odd man out when the White Sox return to 12 pitchers? The starters' setup of Gonzalez, Chris Sale and Jose Quintana in Toronto stands as the lone pitching focus for the White Sox presently. White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Gonzalez's status past Monday night was "to be determined." "As of right now, I'm throwing in Baltimore," Danks said. "That's truthfully all I know." Start voting to send Melky, Eaton to All-Star Game By Scott Merkin / MLB.com April 24th, 2016 CHICAGO -- The White Sox entered Sunday's homestand finale against the Rangers with the most victories of any American League team. That early success also means potential All-Star worthy candidates, players who fans can now vote for with the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot going live. White Sox fans will be able to lend support to leadoff man Adam Eaton, looking to make his first Midsummer Classic appearance at the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard. Eaton is one of the team leaders in batting average and on-base percentage, and he's made a seamless defensive transition from center field to right field. Melky Cabrera has jumped off to a great start, leading the team with his.344 batting average and.400 OBP entering Sunday, not to mention a team high in hits. Both Cabrera and Eaton started off slowly at the plate in And let's not forget second baseman Brett Lawrie, who falls second on the team in OBP and has added some much-needed energy as a whole. This trio stands at the core of the South Siders' early-season turnaround. Browsing the ballot The other side: Dexter Fowler was a surprise late Spring Training addition to the Cubs, and he has been off to a tremendous start over in the National League. The switch-hitting center fielder had a OPS with 13 extra-base hits and 17 runs scored entering Sunday. Tip of the cap: Jarrod Saltalamacchia certainly wasn't the biggest-name acquisition made by the Tigers, but it's hard to overlook his numbers to date. The Tigers backstop leads all catchers with six homers and 15 RBIs, to go along with a OPS entering Sunday.

5 A rising star: Tyler White has started his Major League Baseball career with a significant impact. The Astros' rookie first baseman has five homers and 12 RBIs, as well as a OPS entering Sunday, ranking first in the AL at his position. Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on their computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Vote up to five times in any 24-hour period for a maximum of 35 times. Fans may also receive the ballot by texting VOTE to (USA) or (Canada). Or text VOTA for a ballot in Spanish. Message and data rates may apply. Up to five messages. No purchase required. Reply STOP to cancel. Reply HELP for info. Following the announcement of the 2016 All-Stars, be sure to return to MLB.com and cast your 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. On Tuesday, July 12, watch the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 87th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com. White Sox Bring Up Miguel Gonzalez To Start Monday Against Blue Jays By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago April 24th, 2016 Miguel Gonzalez will make his White Sox deubt Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays as manager Robin Ventura & Co. re-worked the team's rotation before a seven-game road trip. The 31-year-old Gonzalez was scratched from his scheduled Triple-A start on Friday. He s made two starts since the White Sox signed him to a minor league deal April 3, and allowed three runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts, two walks and two home runs allowed over 11 innings. With Gonzalez coming up, the White Sox optioned right-hander Erik Johnson to Triple-A Charlotte after Sunday's win over the Texas Rangers. Ace left-hander Chris Sale will now start Tuesday and Jose Quintana will throw Wednesday against Toronto, and John Danks will be pushed back to pitch against the Baltimore Orioles. Blue Jays hitters had a OPS last season against Danks, who made two starts against the American League East champs. In one start against Baltimore, Danks held the Orioles scoreless over seven innings. Gonzalez posted a 3.45 ERA in 435 2/3 innings (69 starts, six relief appearances) from with the Orioles. But he scuffled to a 4.91 ERA in 26 starts in 2015, and the Orioles released him near the end of spring training. The White Sox liked what they saw from Gonzalez in his first minor league start, in which general manager Rick Hahn said his fastball topped out at 93 mph. In his career, Gonzalez has a 2.61 ERA in 76 innings against the Blue Jays and limited that fearsome lineup to a.201 batting average and.614 OPS. White Sox: Kevan Smith Soaking In Promotion To Majors By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago April 24th, 2016 Kevan Smith walked into the White Sox clubhouse on Sunday looking both exhausted and elated, the kind of combination that comes with a player s first call-up to the major leagues.

6 The 27-year-old Smith was told Saturday night he was being brought to The Show thanks to Alex Avila s balky hamstring. Since about 7 or 8 p.m. last night, his phone was going off non-stop with congratulatory text messages and calls. Around 1 a.m., he shut it off, since he needed to get some rest before an earlymorning flight from Toledo (where Triple-A Charlotte was playing) to Chicago. No big deal, Smith said. I ll catch up on sleep when we get to Toronto. Smith had to borrow Triple-A teammate Travis Ishikawa s suit on short notice, since he didn t bring one with him and the White Sox depart for a road trip to Toronto and Baltimore this week. It s been a wild last 24 hours for the Pittsburgh native, who s spent the last four seasons slowly working up the rungs of the White Sox organizational ladder. Smith played in 476 minor-league games and comes to the major leagues with a.290/.367/.454 slash line, and was 10-for-29 with two home runs in Charlotte this season. He ll back up Dioner Navarro with the White Sox until Avila, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, is ready to return. It's just a good opportunity for him, manager Robin Ventura said. He's been doing well down there. You kind of trust what our guys are seeing down there. It's a nice opportunity. He won't get as much playing time as Dio but he's going to be playing. Smith worked tirelessly to improve as a catcher and shake off old habits from his days as a backup quarterback for Dave Wannstedt s Pitt Panthers. He feels more confident in his receiving skills, which he feels will allow pitchers to trust him once he gets in a game. While Navarro will get most of the time behind the plate during Avila s absence, at some point, Smith will get to make his major league debut. For now, though, the realization that he s in the majors is still sinking in. It s still an emotional roller coaster right now, Smith said. I m talking to buddies that I played (with) back in rookie ball and A-ball, and they re like, this isn t Kannapolis anymore, just making little jokes and stuff like that. It s just kind of a dream becoming reality and I m trying to soak everything in today and just get my bearings. White Sox Hope Avisail Garcia Can Find Consistency In Majors By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago April 24th, 2016 Before spring training began, Avisail Garcia said he would experiment with a new batting stance in hopes of improving a part of his game he struggled with in 2015: consistency. By the time spring training had ended, Garcia was feeling pretty encouraged about where he stood with his game. He hit.383/.431/.733 in Arizona, hitting five homers tied for first on the White Sox with three others and posting a team-leading 19 RBI. All signs appeared to be looking up for the Venezuelan outfielder. But 18 games into the 2016 campaign, those inconsistencies have surfaced again, which is why Garcia will have his second day off in three games when the White Sox take on the Texas Rangers in their series finale on Sunday. (Jerry) Sands is in there and we're lucky, said Robin Ventura. With Sands, you can put him in there and you feel confident about him going in and helping you win a game until Avi can find that piece that's missing.

7 Prior to Sunday, Garcia has played in four of six games during this homestand but hasn t recorded a hit in any of the contests. He s 0-for-14 and only has one hit in his last 23 at-bats. On the season, Garcia is has a.135/.224/.269 slash line in 15 games played. The White Sox are still hopeful that the 24-year-old can get going in the majors. Ventura believes sending Garcia to Triple-A Charlotte wouldn t be a bad thing, but he believes Garcia has a spot on the roster for a reason. Right now we're trying to give him time here, said Ventura. We think he can help us here. Mat Latos Stays Hot As White Sox Complete Sweep Of Rangers By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago April 24th, 2016 Mat Latos has been off to a hot start this season and it continued on Sunday as the White Sox beat the Texas Rangers, 4-1, completing a series sweep at U.S. Cellular Field. Latos improved to 4-0 on the year, bringing his ERA to He pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out two. "Matty threw great. He continues to impress," manager Robin Ventura said. "That s a tough lineup to go through when they load those lefties in there. He just does a nice job of filling up the strike zone, spinning it up and down in the strike zone. Taking a little off. Getting the ground ball when he needs to and a fly ball. He continues to do that and allow the defense to work for him." Latos had his struggles though early in the game, having a 26-pitch first inning. In the second at-bat of the game, rookie Nomar Mazara smacked a 418-foot solo homer to right field to get the Rangers on the board first. But in the third, Dioner Navarro responded with a solo shot of his own, his first of the season, to even things up. Latos found himself in a few more jams later in the contest as well, but was able to hold off the Rangers from adding any runs. In the fourth, Latos forced Brett Nicholas to line out, stranding the runners on second and third. The next inning, the Rangers had runners at the corners with one out, but Latos prevailed by getting Prince Fielder to ground out into a double play. I was kind of running on fumes there, the last part, and I was lucky to get a ground ball, Latos said. The White Sox pitcher was stuck in hole again in the sixth inning with one out and runners at the corners, but forced yet another double play on his 109th pitch to get out of the jam. I battled today, Latos said. I didn't have good fastball command. I fell behind in the count early. I was lucky. I got away with a couple pitches. The defense picked me up and so did the offense. The White Sox offense started heating up in the fifth and got things going. Brett Lawrie followed up a Melky Cabrera walk with a double to right-center field to start the inning. A wild pitch scored Cabrera from third his second run from a wild pitch this series to put the White Sox in front 2-1.

8 The White Sox tacked on another run with a sac fly from Navarro that scored Lawrie. And in the eighth, Lawrie s RBI single extended their lead to 4-1. David Robertson capped off the game by earning his seventh save of the season. The White Sox finished their seven-game homestand with a 5-2 record and improved to 13-6 on the year, which leads the American League. But on Monday, they hit the road for a week and they re feeling pretty good about it. "I know it definitely takes us into Toronto on a high note being that Toronto does have a good lineup," Latos said. "So keep winning ballgames and it definitely helps going into tougher series. The Rangers are a tough team and we were able to get a sweep. We just need to take that momentum into Toronto and then into Baltimore as well." Mat Latos, Dioner Navarro help lift White Sox to sweep of Rangers By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune April 24th, 2016 In more ways than one, Mat Latos' 109th and final pitch Sunday was about saving face. The White Sox right-hander was "running on fumes," Rangers taunting him on first and third with one out in the sixth, when he calmly snagged a screamer headed straight for his head and fired to Brett Lawrie at second for the first out of an inning-ending double play. "I'm just glad it didn't take my face off," Latos said after his team's 4-1 victory against the Rangers that put a bow on his team's 5-2 homestand. The sequence unfolded just after pitching coach Don Cooper strolled to the mound, much to Latos' relief. The Sox were nursing a 3-1 lead at the time. Latos was tiring. He had watched the Rangers whack some balls with force and saw his pitch count climbing toward disaster. "When Coop came out there, it kind of gave me a little bit of a breather," said Latos, who moved to 4-0 for the first time in his career. "I looked at Lawrie and was like, 'Phew.' It takes a toll on your body. I was lucky to get a ground ball." And so, so far, so good continued for the White Sox, who have been so good so far thanks mostly to strong arms, strong gloves and slumbering bats that rise and shine at opportune times. The Sox won their American League-best 13th game Sunday, versus six defeats, to complete a sweep of a team that, coming into the three-game series led the league in hits and runs. Texas managed few of either 20 hits and four runs during a weekend it would rather forget. Jose Quintana and the White Sox's 5-0 victory Friday doomed the Rangers' four-game winning streak. Jose Abreu, now in a 4-for-40 slump, limped a single through a crowded infield in the 11th inning Saturday. On Sunday, catcher Dioner Navarro jogged 360 feet in the third inning after his 379-foot home run to left field tied the score 1-1. It was Navarro's first in a White Sox uniform. A double play in the fifth also went down as a sacrifice line drive for Navarro that gave the Sox a 3-1 lead. "When he's catching it looks like everything is a strike," manager Robin Ventura said. "Even at the plate, having seen him from the other side quite a bit, he has that feel. It's up and down our lineup. You look at numbers and it doesn't look all that great, but there's a sense when guys get on and something starts happening they're able to come through with a hit."

9 Four of Sunday's Sox starters are batting under.200. A fifth, Todd Frazier, is at.205. But even when they weren't hitting Sunday, the ball bounced the Sox's way. Take the fifth inning, for example, when Melky Cabrera scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Derek Holland with Jerry Sands in the right-handed batter's box that put the Sox ahead 2-1. Meanwhile, Latos' ERA actually went up from 0.49 to 0.74 after he allowed just a solo home run to Nomar Mazara. That was one of seven hits Latos permitted, which was one more than he had given up in his previous three starts combined. Even this start left a small taste of 'what-if' in Latos' craw. "It was supposed a fastball in but it was down and away, so I missed a spot," he said of the home run. "I battled today. I didn't have good fastball command. I fell behind in the count early. I was lucky; I got away with a couple pitches." He was good too. New White Sox catcher Kevan Smith ready to suit up when necessary By Paul Skrbina / Chicago Tribune April 24th, 2016 New White Sox catcher Kevan Smith, had no clothes for his unplanned trip to Chicago early Sunday morning from Toledo, Ohio. Well, not many, anyway. Smith, who hasn't played in a major-league game, lugged a borrowed suit and a mostly empty suitcase to U.S. Cellular Field for what likely will be a stay on borrowed time behind the plate for the White Sox. He was called him up from Triple-A Charlotte to take the roster spot of fellow catcher Alex Avila, whose bum right hamstring landed him on the 15-day disabled list. But Smith said he'll be ready to suit up whenever the Sox need him. It's just kind of a dream becoming reality and I'm trying to soak everything in today and get my bearings," Smith said. Smith found a friend, Knights teammate Travis Ishikawa, to lend him some formal threads for the lastminute departure. Reliever Jake Petricka was the first to greet Smith in the clubhouse, where the two fist-bumped and Petricka whispered congrats. "I had to shut my phone off (around 1 a.m.) because I had to get up at 4:45 for a flight to get here, but (it was) all worth it," Smith said. "No big deal. I'll catch up on sleep when we get to Toronto." The former University of Pittsburgh quarterback was hitting.345 with a pair of home runs and six RBIs and threw out five of the 11 who attempted to steal a base against him in eight games with Charlotte this season. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder was drafted by the Sox in 2011 and is a career.290 hitter with 49 home runs, 294 RBIs and an.821 OPS in 476 minor-league games. "It's a nice opportunity," manager Robin Ventura said. "He won't get as much playing time as (Dioner Navarro), but he's going to be playing."

10 Avila left Saturday's game after pulling up lame at second base in the sixth inning. He was batting.214 in 10 games. Rotation shuffle: Ventura said Chris Sale will start Tuesday in Toronto against the Blue Jays, a day later than he was scheduled. Ventura was evasive when asked who would start Monday but said John Danks (0-3, 6.23 ERA) the team's fifth starter, is healthy. Miguel Gonzalez, who is 7-3 with a 1.01 WHIP and a 2.61 ERA in his career against the Blue Jays, will start Monday after being called up after Sunday's game. Pitcher Erik Johnson was optioned to Charlotte to make room for him. No more waiting on John Danks for White Sox By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune April 24th, 2016 The lack of commitment to John Danks after only three starts shows the White Sox are not messing around. Danks was in line to start Monday in Toronto, but the Sox instead called up reclamation project Miguel Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte and skipped Danks altogether. He s now slated to start in Baltimore on Thursday, and after that it s to be determined, according to manager Robin Ventura. That s reason to rejoice for White Sox fans who ve patiently been waiting for Danks to return to form after his shoulder surgery in Danks is 0-3 with a 6.23 earned-run average, and though he allowed only two earned runs against the Angels in his last start, he walked five over six innings. Right-handed hitters are batting.309 against Danks in 2016, after hitting.294 off him in The Sox have given Danks plenty of opportunities, and the most frustrating part is he ll have a good start here and there before falling on his face again. Danks earned-run average was 4.75 in 2013, 4.74 in 2014 and 4.71 last year, which isn t the kind of incremental improvement the team was looking for from the guy Ken Williams handed a $65 million, five-year contract in Danks earns $14.25 million this year, which makes him virtually untradeable. If he doesn't show anything in his next start, the Sox can stick him in the bullpen in a long relief role, as the Cubs did with Edwin Jackson when it became obvious he was never going to succeed as a starter. Whether Gonzalez, who turns 32 next month, is the long-term answer remains to be seen. He was 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA for the Orioles last year before they waived him near the end of spring training. He made only two starts at Charlotte, allowing three runs over 11 innings, with 10 strikeouts. But at least the Sox are being proactive. They re off to a great start with the best record in the American League, despite a glaring lack of offense. Obviously they re not willing to wait for Danks to become a more consistent pitcher, even while he s a popular player in the clubhouse and with the front office. Ditto for Avisail Garcia, who was benched by Ventura again on Sunday. Ventura didn t rule out sending Garcia to the minors in the future, which would be a big wake-up call for the struggling outfielder who was hyped as a star-in-the-making when he was acquired from the Tigers in 2013 in the three-way deal involving Jake Peavy. It makes sense to send Garcia down for a bit. Outfielder Jason Coats is hitting.365 with a.977 OPS at Charlotte, and could at least give the Sox a little offense while Garcia gets his act together.

11 Things are finally looking up on the South Side, and maybe the best part is the Sox are willing to audible, even when it comes to changing the roles of established players. Gonzalez will start for Sox Monday vs. Jays; Danks pushed back By Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun-Times April 24th, 2016 Struggling John Danks will be the odd man out of the rotation when the White Sox begin a three-game series Monday night in Toronto as part of a seven-game road trip. Danks, winless in three starts with a 6.23 ERA, won t pitch until the Sox go to Baltimore on Thursday. The Sox will call up right-hander Miguel Gonzalez from Class AAA Charlotte to start Monday, moving back Chris Sale to Tuesday and Jose Quintana to Wednesday. To make room for Gonzalez, the Sox optioned pitcher Erik Johnson to Charlotte after the game Sunday. As of right now, all I know is I m throwing in Baltimore, Danks said. I feel fine. I just have to throw better and be more consistent. I know that. Avila out Catcher Alex Avila, who left the game Saturday after a slide into second to end the sixth inning, went on the disabled list Sunday with a strained right hamstring. The Sox recalled catcher Kevan Smith, 27, from Charlotte. It s been a long time coming, said Smith, who was drafted in I see a lot of rehabbing guys in Charlotte, and I feel comfortable with them. I expect the same feeling here. Dioner Navarro will get the bulk of the catching duty, but manager Robin Ventura said Smith will get work. It s a good opportunity for him, Ventura said. He s been doing well down there [hitting.346 with two home runs and six RBI and throwing out five of 11 base-stealers]. Staying put for now Avisail Garcia was on the bench again, but Ventura said there are no plans to demote him to the minors. Right now, no, Ventura said. We re trying to give him time here. [Jerry] Sands is here [playing in place of Garcia], and we re lucky. You can put him in there, and you feel confident that he ll help you win a game until Avi can find that piece that s missing. Garcia has options, and Ventura said it isn t necessarily a bad thing for a player to be sent down to work on skills. But we think he can help us here, he added. Garcia is hitless in his last 15 at-bats and hitting.097 over his last nine games. Situational frustration The Sox won the game Saturday in 11 innings but stranded 13 runners including leaving the bases loaded in the fourth and sixth innings. They stranded six Sunday. It s like golf and leaving a birdie out there; you can t get it back, Ventura said. You win the game, but you still think about it and the opportunity you missed. The Sox are hitting.214 with the bases loaded and.252 with runners in scoring position.

12 White Sox complete sweep of Rangers, improve to 13-6 By Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun-Times April 24th, 2016 April is not a month to follow the scoreboard, but it s not too early to list some of the bright spots for the American League Central-leading White Sox. The 4-1 victory Sunday over the Texas Rangers gave the Sox a 13-6 record, their best start since 2006, when they also were They re the first AL team to reach 13 victories. The 5-2 homestand included a three-game sweep of the Rangers for the first time since July The Sox are winning despite a team batting average of.227. But there are signs the offense might be coming around after the Sox outscored the Rangers 13-4 in the series. Every guy here thinks when we walk in the clubhouse we re going to win, said Brett Lawrie, who s hitting.347 (14-for-49) in his last 14 games. We know we re not going to win every game, but the mentality is there. Pitching remains the obvious strength, with the starters posting a 1.15 ERA over the last six games. [The Angels came] in here [to start the homestand] with a lot of offense, then the Rangers, manager Robin Ventura said. Our pitching got the job done going through those high-powered offenses. The stellar pitching of right-hander Mat Latos was on display again at U.S. Cellular Field. He improved to 4-0 with a miniscule 0.74 ERA, second-best in the AL. The Rangers only run came on Nomar Mazara s home run in the first inning. Latos surrendered six singles through six innings. Zach Duke, Nate Jones and David Robertson (seventh save) finished the job. This guy is confident right now in being able to throw strikes and put it where he wants to, Ventura said of Latos, who has won his first four starts for the first time in his six-year career. The biggest thing is in spring, he wasn t throwing as many strikes. He s filling up the zone, not only with his fastball, but letting it sink away. That s been the impressive part, the turnaround when you didn t necessarily see it in spring training. He s turned it on right when the season started. Games that count are part of the reason, Latos said. Spring training and the season are two different things, Latos said. Time and time again, I ve said it only takes one pitch or one bullpen session for everything to click. [Pitching coach] Don Cooper and I put a plan together every time I grab a baseball. And you take that to heart. We ve incorporated everything we did in spring training and what we are doing now, and everything has been clicking. Latos credits the offense and defense for coming through for him. And catcher Dioner Navarro has been a factor, too, he said. I ve had him before, and I m real comfortable throwing to him, Latos said. He puts confidence in pitchers, the way he calls games.

13 Navarro has been hitting of late, too, homering off starter Derek Holland (2-1) for his first of the year and driving in another run with a sacrifice fly. What you see is what you get, Navarro said of his hitting, deferring to Latos performance. Latos was outstanding. He s been doing that all year long. He knows what he s doing, and he s throwing strikes. He s getting ahead of hitters, and that s all you can ask. It s a matter of making pitches when you need to. Mat Latos improves to 4-0 as White Sox beat Rangers By The Associated Press April 24th, 2016 CHICAGO (AP) Mat Latos felt he could've done better. Still, it was good enough to maintain his remarkable start. Latos pitched six solid innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 4-1 Sunday to complete a sweep of the three-game series. The 6-foot-6 right-hander, who signed a $3 million, one-year deal with Chicago in February, was charged with one run and seven hits. Latos (4-0) has allowed two earned runs in 24 1/3 innings in his four starts while matching his win total from all of last year. "I battled today," he said. "I didn't have good fastball command, I fell behind in the count early today. I was lucky. I got away with a couple of pitches to some good guys." Although Latos might not have been as sharp as earlier outings this season, White Sox manager Robin Ventura wasn't ready to attribute the newcomer's success to good fortune. "Matty threw great. He continues to impress," Ventura said. "That's a tough lineup to go through." The Rangers were swept in a series of three games or more for the first time since last July by the Angels. "Sometimes you tip your hat to the guy across the way, too," Texas manager Jeff Bannister said. "Latos has been hot. He has been pitching well." David Robertson, who blew a save opportunity on Saturday for this first time this season, struck out the side in the ninth for his seventh save. Dioner Navarro homered and drove in two runs as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. Brett Lawrie added two hits and an RBI. Touted Rangers rookie Nomar Mazara hit a long drive to right in the first inning for his first homer since his major league debut on April 10. The ball cleared the visiting bullpen and landed about five rows into the bleachers. Navarro tied it in the third with a drive to left field for his first homer of the season. Chicago then grabbed the lead in the fifth. Melky Cabrera drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when Lawrie followed with a double to right field. Cabrera scored on a wild pitch and Navarro made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly. Lawrie singled home a run in the eighth.

14 Latos joined teammate Chris Sale and crosstown rival Jake Arrieta of the Cubs among the four pitchers in the major leagues at 4-0. "I'm grateful. I'll take it in stride," Latos said. "I didn't necessarily execute the plan that I wanted to today, but the defense picked me up." PITCHER'S BEST FRIEND The Rangers put runners on first and third with one out in the sixth inning and seemed on the verge of chasing Latos. But he got Ryan Rua to ground back to mound and then started a inning-ending double on his 106th and last pitch of the game. Latos pumped his fist as he headed to the dugout. "It was supposed to be a fastball in, but it was down and away, so I missed the spot," he said. "I was running on fumes there at the end. I was lucky to get a groundball." TRAINER'S ROOM Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels was scratched from his scheduled start on Monday because of a strained left groin muscle. The injury is not considered serious and there is no plan to put him on the disabled list. He skipped one start last August because of the same issue. White Sox: C Alex Avila was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring injury. To take his place on the roster, C Kevan Smith was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte. Avila, who is batting.214 in 10 games this season, was injured running the bases in the sixth inning on Saturday. UP NEXT Rangers: With Hamels injured, LHP Cesar Ramos (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be recalled from Class AAA Round Rock to start the opener of a three-game series against the Yankees on Monday. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (0-2, 6.11 ERA) goes for New York. White Sox: RHP Miguel Gonzalez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be recalled from Class AAA Charlotte to start the opener of a three-game series Monday in Toronto. RHP Marcus Stroman (3-0, 4.13 ERA) goes for the Blue Jays. Chicago White Sox bringing up Gonzalez to start against Toronto By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald April 24th, 2016 The Chicago White Sox pulled Mat Latos off the scrap heap in February and have already been rewarded by the right-hander's 4-0 start and 0.74 ERA. Are they going to have similar luck with Miguel Gonzalez? Tune in Monday night, when Gonzalez joins the Sox from Class AAA Charlotte and takes the mound at Toronto. After Sunday's win over Texas, the White Sox optioned Erik Johnson back to Charlotte to open a spot for Gonzalez. Signed to a minor-league contract on April 3 after being released by the Baltimore Orioles, Gonzalez reported to Charlotte and was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 2 starts. From , Gonzalez was with a 3.45 ERA in 69 starts with the Orioles. While dealing with groin, elbow and shoulder issues last season, the 31-year-old pitcher slipped to 9-12 with a 4.91 ERA.

15 John Danks was scheduled to start against the Blue Jays in the series opener, but he's being pushed back to Thursday's game at Baltimore. Gonzalez has pitched much better than Danks at Toronto over his career, which undoubtedly factored into the Sox's decision. New catcher: Heading into Saturday's game against the Rangers, the White Sox were the only team in baseball that had no players on the disabled list. That changed when catcher Alex Avila hurt his right hamstring running from first to second base. As expected, Avila landed on the 15-day DL on Sunday, and the Sox called up Kevan Smith from Class AAA Charlotte to fill the hole at catcher. In 8 games with the Knights this season, Smith batted.345 (10-for-29) with 2 home runs and 6 RBI. He'll back up Dioner Navarro with the White Sox. "It's just a good opportunity for him," manager Robin Ventura said. "He's been doing well (for Charlotte). You kind of trust what our guys are seeing down there. He won't get as much playing time as Dio, but he's going to be playing." The 26-year-old Smith was a seventh-round draft pick in 2011 out of the University of Pittsburgh, where he played baseball and football (quarterback). The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is looking forward to making his major-league debut. "It's been a long time coming," Smith said. "I was drafted in 2011, so hitting every tier on the way up, it's certainly been an exciting ride. But to get the call up, unfortunately with Alex, but I'll take the call up any way it wanted to come. I'm thrilled." Smith has developed into a strong defensive catcher. He threw out 5 of 11 attempted basestealers this season (46 percent) and is 131-for-421 (31 percent) over six seasons in the Sox's system. "That was my biggest thing that I had to improve on," Smith said. "When I was first drafted, I kind of had that football mentality, I was a lot bigger, I was a lot stiffer, I had to work on my flexibility, different kind of movements with my hips and knees and everything. Back from 2011 to now, I think I've transformed into a much different player and a catcher. "I feel a lot better, my back feels a lot better, my knees, my joints, I just feel like I'm getting lower for pitchers, I'm giving better targets for guys, and I think that gives them the confidence, too, if I can pick up those low ball strikes for them."

16 Staying put: Hitless in his last 15-bats, designated hitter Avisail Garcia was on the bench for the third time in five games Sunday. Earlier in the homestand, manager Robin Ventura said the time wasn't right to send Garcia to the minor leagues. He repeated that sentiment on Sunday. "Right now we're trying to give him time here," Ventura said. "(Jerry) Sands is in there and we're lucky. With Sands, you can put him in there and you feel confident about him going in and helping you win a game until Avi can find that piece that's missing. Needing to prove himself this season after a disappointing 2015, Garcia is batting.135. "No, it's not," Ventura said when asked if it's a bad thing to be sent down. "But we think he can help us here."