WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF APRIL 11, 2016 “Reliever Albers proving valuable to White Sox” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox finale vs. Indians rained out” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “Eaton to paternity list, Ynoa recalled” … Scott Merkin, MLB.com “White Sox adapting to new second base sliding rules” … JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago “White Sox-Indians postponed, will be made up May 23” … JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago “Michael Ynoa 'in shock' at promotion to White Sox” … JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago “Road Ahead: White Sox look to change luck against Twins” … CSN Staff, CSN Chicago “Chris Sale's emotional outbursts are OK with his bosses” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “Sunday's White Sox game postponed due to rain” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “ off paternity list on Monday” … Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “White Sox see no problem with lefty-heavy rotation” … Toni Ginnetti, Chicago Sun-Times “Bullpen big part of White Sox’ early success” … Toni Ginnetti, Chicago Sun-Times “More rough weather washes out ” … Scot Gregor, Daily Herald “Bernfield: Not quite contenders, but White Sox clearly improved” … Jordan Bernfield, Daily Herald “Levine: White Sox Relievers Utilizing iPad Videos To Prepare” … Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago “White Sox-Indians Game Postponed Due To Rain” … CBS Staff, CBS Chicago “White Sox Call Up Michael Ynoa; Adam Eaton Placed On Paternity List” … CBS Staff, CBS Chicago “Every five days: Chris Sale had no sleeves, little heat and enough to win” … Jon Greenberg, The Athletic “Challenge to White Sox, ESPN hosts: Recite Chance the Rapper lyrics” … Phil Muschnick , The New York Post “Darius Fleming Throws Out First Pitch For White Sox” … Tim Moran, The Patch “Adam Eaton out Sunday after birth of child” … ESPN News Services, ESPN.com “White Sox put Adam Eaton on paternity list” … Sarah Trotto, The Associated Press “Indians at White Sox postponed because of rain” … The Associated Press Reliever Albers proving valuable to White Sox Right-hander sees increased velocity, extends scoreless streak with 2 solid frames Saturday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | April 10th, 2016

CHICAGO – Matt Albers wasn't a certainty to return to the 2016 White Sox, with the free agent reliever having designs on working late in games. But Albers' return to the South Side via a one-year, $2.25 million deal with a club option for 2017 has allowed the best of both worlds for the team and the right- hander.

Albers has proven his value in a setup role, mixed in with Nate Jones and Zach Duke, but he also can be stretched out to go a couple of innings. He hurled two scoreless frames against the Indians on Saturday to help complete a come-from-behind 7-3 victory.

"This is a guy who, when his career was earlier, he was pitching a little bit longer or earlier in the game," White Sox pitching Don Cooper said. "Because of his experience, now we feel very comfortable with him handling any situation."

Since his arrival prior to the 2015 season, Albers arguably has been the steadiest White Sox reliever. Those two innings Saturday extended his scoreless streak to 26 1/3 innings over 23 appearances, dating back to Aug. 5, 2015. His career-best streak has featured a 1-0 record with eight holds, 19 hits allowed and 21 against five walks. There's also a noticeable velocity increase for Albers, who has averaged 94.6 mph on his velocity this season, per FanGraphs, compared to 91.1 last year and a career average of 92.7.

"I was a little bit surprised that my velocity was up that much," Albers said. "I'm just trying to maintain. I'm just trying to stay within myself, not try to throw too hard. Last year, my velo wasn't up, but I wasn't overthrowing and had success -- just trying to mix those both together. But I'm feeling good."

"He got his pitch back," said White Sox starter Chris Sale, whose second straight 2016 win was secured by Albers' work. "He looks as good as I've ever seen him. His two-seamer looks like a changeup coming in there at 95 or 96 mph. It's awesome. It's fun to watch. He's fired up, and he should be."

Fired up was an understatement for Albers following a of Carlos Santana to end the eighth Saturday. The calm hurler had a few words of excitement for himself as he walked off the field and might have bruised a few teammates' hands with his intense dugout high-fives.

"I've always enjoyed pitching against old teams I've played for," said a smiling Albers, who was with the Indians in 2013. "I have a lot of friends over there. I liked playing there, and you just kind of get pumped up when you've played with guys. ... That was good to get the win."

White Sox finale vs. Indians rained out Game will be made up May 23 as part of straight doubleheader By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | April 10th, 2016

CHICAGO -- Sunday's series finale between the White Sox and Indians at U.S. Cellular Field was postponed due to rain.

Weather forecasts for the Chicagoland area called for steady rain late into the evening.

"When we keep looking at the weather, we had Tito [Cleveland manager Terry Francona] in there too, you start getting the reports of what it's going to be, and there's a chance you lose both starters," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "It was going to be steady rain all day long.

"There wasn't really good reports. You take that into consideration and move on."

The game will be made up on May 23 as part of a straight doubleheader, beginning at 4:10 p.m. CT. The originally scheduled contest will begin at 7:10 p.m. CT, or 30 minutes following the conclusion of the opener, but no sooner than the scheduled start time.

Fans must exchange their game tickets and parking coupons from today's postponement for tickets of equal or lesser value to any future regular-season White Sox home game. All exchanges must be done at the U.S. Cellular Field box office, which opens Monday at 10 a.m. CT. Fans with tickets for May 23 may attend both games of the doubleheader.

Jose Quintana was scheduled to start Sunday but now will be moved back to Monday afternoon's contest at Target Field, which stands as the Twins' home opener. Carlos Rodon gets the start Wednesday night, and Mat Latos will pitch Thursday.

Ventura wouldn't commit beyond the Twins series for his rotation. Chris Sale and Quintana could pitch on regular rest Friday and Saturday, respectively, at Tropicana Field, possibly moving John Danks back to Sunday.

Leadoff man and right fielder Adam Eaton, who was placed on the paternity list for Sunday after the birth of his son, was expected to meet the White Sox at the airport Sunday evening. So Michael Ynoa, who was recalled from Double-A Birmingham, returns with one day of big league service time. "Michael had an interesting day," Ventura said.

Eaton to paternity list, Ynoa recalled By Scott Merkin / MLB.com | April 10th, 2016

CHICAGO -- During , White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper told Michael Ynoa that he wasn't too far from reaching the Majors.

"Boy, was I a prophet," Cooper said of the right-handed reliever, who was recalled from Double-A Birmingham prior to Sunday's game against the Indians being postponed due to rain, with outfielder Adam Eaton being placed on the paternity list.

"Obviously, he did very well in Spring Training," Cooper added. "But it's awful nice to be able to have a job that you can see people realize their dreams."

Eaton, the team's leadoff hitter and right fielder, left to join his wife, Katie, on Saturday when she went into labor with their first child. Their son, Brayden, arrived at 7 pounds, 1 ounce.

The paternity list dictates that a player must miss one day, which was Sunday for Eaton even without the game, but he can't miss any more than three. White Sox manager Robin Ventura expected to have Eaton on the team plane for Minnesota on Sunday night

Ynoa, 24, came to the White Sox as part of the deal with Oakland prior to the 2015 season. He has worked exclusively out of the bullpen during the past two seasons, posting a 2.61 ERA over 28 games for Advanced Winston-Salem in '15.

He pitched one scoreless inning for the Barons this season and was ready to go for the White Sox on Sunday.

"Yesterday, they called me and said, 'Hey, man. You have to take all your stuff and you have to fly to Chicago.' I was like, 'What?,'" said a smiling Ynoa. "I was shocked. I'm still in shock. But I'm really happy." There was no actual game for Ynoa, leaving him with a brief big league experience.

"It's good for him," manager Robin Ventura said. "Again, you are taking a young kid that earned an opportunity to come up here. He gets to be in the clubhouse, put his uniform on, feel a part of it.

"Knowing that he's only here for a day, maybe a day, maybe two days, it helps him out as part of his development. But he deserves to be here, as well."

Ventura feels for Schwarber Ventura understands the pain and disappointment felt by Cubs outfielder , who tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in a collision with center fielder Dexter Fowler on Thursday in Arizona.

The White Sox manager broke his right leg and suffered a severely dislocated right ankle while sliding into home during a 1997 Spring Training contest.

"They do great things with knees and things like that," Ventura said. "Mine was different. But I hope he can still catch and do all the stuff that he was, that everybody is expecting him to do in his career."

Ventura only saw a brief replay of the injury and was hoping it was just an ankle sprain upon seeing Schwarber get up and walk.

"All the work he put in during the offseason and Spring Training, and something like that happens, it makes you sick to your stomach," Ventura said. "It's bad news all the way around. You don't wish that on anybody."

White Sox adapting to new second base sliding rules By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | April 10th, 2016

The White Sox haven’t had to learn baseball’s new sliding rule the hard way, as was the case with the and Astros in the first week of the season. But they’re still figuring out how best to adapt to the Rule 6.01(j), which prohibits blatant takeout slides on double play balls in which the runner doesn’t make an attempt to reach second base.

The rule, itself, is fairly clear. A runner must make a “bona fide slide” into second base, which means he begins his slide before reaching the bag, is able and makes an effort to reach the base with his hand or foot, is able to stay on the base after the slide and doesn’t change his path to initiate contact with the fielder.

Essentially, players have to break up double plays by sliding into the bag and not past it. The counterweight to the rule is that managers have the ability to challenge “in the neighborhood” plays in which the second baseman or drags his foot behind second base, but doesn’t touch the bag — a tactic commonly used in the past to avoid takeout slides.

Most believe the rule isn’t too difficult to understand. But the problem comes in forcing players to not rely on the instincts they’ve been taught to have since travel ball or high school — to break up a double play by any means necessary.

“It’s going to be tough on those bang-bang ones, instinctually, to make up your mind within five strides,” White Sox infielder Tyler Saladino said.

Severe injuries suffered by Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung-Ho Kana and shortstop Ruben Tejada put those takeout slides in an ugly spotlight last year, prompting the new rule. But its effects are felt beyond just changing how players slide into second base.

On Friday, Avisail Garcia — with a runner ahead of him on second base — was caught with too big a lead and was picked off first base by Indians Yan Gomes. White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Garcia didn’t have to have that aggressive a lead given he and his linebacker-esque frame couldn’t barrel into second base to break up a double play chance anymore.

It may seem like players will become overly cautious leading off and going into second base due to the new rule, but Ventura said he’s not concerned about it.

“Seeing what’s happened the last few games, it looks like everybody is still — their instinct is to still slide in like they used to,” Ventura said. “It’s hard when guy have been playing for 10-20 some years knowing they’re supposed to go after that guy and try to break it up.”

Saladino said there’s another aspect to the rule that changes things: Having to avoid sliding through the bag. In the past, when a player knew he’d be out on a double play, he could slide past second base and into the fielder without worrying about holding on to the bag because there was no chance of him being safe. Now, Saladino said, he has to think about holding on to the bag every time he slides into it.

“The one that worries me is if it’s crunch time and you really need to do something to try to distract or whatever with that defender, and then you’re only option is to hold on to the base — (I’ve) never done that before,” Saladino said. “You just slide through there. So holding on to the base, I mean, that’s a whole new move that we’re counting on our bodies to handle. That’s the one area that I’m kind of concerned with.”

Saladino is on the other side of it as a shortstop, too. He never was a fan of being “in the neighborhood,” always choosing to tap second base as he moved to his left on double plays. He and other have to be more conscious of actually touching the base now, given replay can rule a runner safe if they don’t. But with that effort to the bag comes a knowledge that, if they are, a runner can’t slide late and past the bag to barrel into them.

Contact at second base isn’t completely eliminated. Players can still slide to the left or right of the bag so long as they stick an arm or leg out to make an effort at being on the base. But through the season’s first week, there have already been two instances of games ending due to reviews of the new rule.

The Blue Jays lost to the Tampa Bay Rays when replay officials determined Jose Bautista intentionally reached his arm out and touched shortstop Logan Forsythe’s leg instead of going into the bag. A few days later, Colby Rasmus clearly slid late and beyond second base trying to break up a double play and was called for interference, handing the a win over the Astros.

There may be more high-profile instances of interference being called, some of which will inevitably come in a pennant race. And it may take a while for the White Sox and the rest of baseball to adapt to it.

“All in all, it’s not the worst rule,” Saladino said. “But at the same time, it always comes down to the fact that we’ve done it one way for so long. It’s just going to be an adjustment.”

White Sox-Indians postponed, will be made up May 23 By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | April 10th, 2016

Sunday's White Sox-Indians game was postponed due to rain in the area and will be made up May 23 as part of a straight doubleheader.

The first game of the doubleheader will begin at 4:10 p.m. on May 23 and the second game will begin at 7:10, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

Fans with tickets and parking coupons for Sunday's game must exchange them for tickets of equal or lesser value to a future game. Those with tickets to the May 23 game may attend both games of the doubleheader.

With the rainout, Jose Quintana (who was scheduled to start Sunday) will pitch Monday against the Minnesota Twins. The rest of the rotation will also be pushed a day back.

The White Sox, Indians and umpires decided to postpone Sunday's game when they did so both starters - - Quintana and Josh Tomlin -- wouldn't begin warming up then not get to pitch.

"You start getting the reports of what it’s going to be, there’s a chance you lose both starters," manager Robin Ventura said. "It was going to be steady rain all day long. There wasn’t really good reports. You take that into consideration and move on and I think it’s in May they come back so we’ll end up probably having a doubleheader then."

Michael Ynoa 'in shock' at promotion to White Sox By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago | April 10th, 2016

Michael Ynoa saw an immediate payoff from his strong spring training, as the 6-foot-7 right-hander was recalled to the major leagues Sunday after the White Sox placed outfielder Adam Eaton on the paternity list.

Unfortunately for Ynoa, Sunday's postponement meant his time in the majors was short-lived, for now. Eaton left the White Sox on Saturday to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, Brayden. He’s expected to travel with the team to Minnesota on Sunday and be active Monday, meaning Ynoa will be sent back to the minor leagues without having the chance to play in his first major league game.

Ynoa, though, was appreciative of the chance he was given before the game was announced as being called off due to rain in the area.

“I’m still in shock,” Ynoa said. “I’m happy to be here, and thanks to the White Sox (for giving) me this opportunity. And I’m really happy. I’m really happy.”

Ynoa, who the White Sox acquired from the in 2014’s Jeff Samardzija trade, didn’t allow a in five Cactus League appearances, striking out six with three walks. The hard-throwing 24- year-old made one appearance with Double-A Birmingham before being called up, striking out one in a scoreless inning Thursday.

"Michael had an interesting day," manager Robin Ventura said. "It’s good for him. I think he would have much rather there had been a game, but again you are taking a young kid that earned an opportunity to come up here. He gets to be in the clubhouse, put his uniform on, feel a part of it."

Ynoa is a former top prospect — Baseball Prospectus ranked him as the game’s No. 20 prospect in 2009 and No. 66 in 2010. But he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010 and didn’t pitch again until 2012, and didn’t regain much effectiveness until his time with Single-A Winston-Salem last year. In 40 innings out of the Dash’s bullpen, Ynoa had a 2.61 ERA with 40 strikeouts, 16 walks and two home runs.

But his work in spring training caught the eye of pitching coach Don Cooper, who figured Ynoa would be in the majors sooner rather than later — even though some brutal Midwestern weather meant he didn't get a shot to debut on Sunday.

"What I did I tell him (in spring) was, 'You're not that far away.' Boy, was I a prophet," Cooper said. "The thing about it, obviously he did very well in spring training but it's awful nice to be able to have a job that you can see people realize their dreams. It's a life-long dream, to be in the big leagues. Well, he's here and that's a wonderful thing. Don't be surprised if you see him in the game (Sunday)."

Road Ahead: White Sox look to change luck against Twins By CSN Staff / CSN Chicago | April 10th, 2016

Last season, the White Sox did not fare well against the division-rival Twins.

The South Siders dropped six of the eight games they played at Target Field during the 2015 campaign, part of an ugly 6-13 record against the Twins.

They'll look for a much different result this season, and that starts this week, as the White Sox head north to take on the Twins starting Monday.

CSN's Chuck Garfien and Bill Melton take a look ahead to the upcoming series in the Land of 10,000 Lakes in the Road Ahead, presented by Chicagoland & NW Indiana Honda Dealers. Check it out in the video above.

Chris Sale's emotional outbursts are OK with his bosses By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune | April 10th, 2016

Chris Sale showed again in spring training that he wears his heart on his sleeve when he lobbed some verbal hand grenades in the direction of White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams. Sale angrily claimed Williams lied about the reasons for wanting to limit the clubhouse access of Adam LaRoche's son, and suggested the team would be better off if Williams himself — not young Drake — was the one given the boot.

Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf banned his employees from discussing the situation after the hubbub, so how the disagreement was resolved was never revealed.

But the two spoke about Sale's comments afterward, Williams confirmed Sunday, calling it a "good talk" but a conversation that will remain private.

That doesn't mean Sale is going to change his personality. His anger was on full display again Saturday when he stalked off the mound, slapping his head and yelling into his glove before making a scene in the dugout after serving up a two-run, game-tying to the Indians' Mike Napoli.

"Yeah, there's emotion going all over the place," Ventura said before Sunday's rainout against the Indians. "He's not the only one that does it. It's not exclusive to him. There are other guys, not when he gave it up, but at other times, there's emotion all the time. That's fine. I get it."

Ventura has been on the receiving end of Sale's rants as well, and the two get along fine, so he doesn't blink at Sale's heated reactions. Catcher said it was understandable that Sale was upset over the home run, adding they needed to find a way to channel those emotions.

Asked if Sale reminded him of former teammate Jack McDowell, another hot-headed pitcher who didn't hide his disdain for management, Ventura said "there's very few people that he would be compared to like that, but I think that's fair."

Ventura said he believes that emotional side of Sale is part of the reason for his success.

"It's hard to explain to people unless you've really been around them, but the intensity and I don't know if it's anger, but there's some anger that goes with it, which is fine," he said.

"Even talking to his dad, it's like, he'd probably have more friends if he was more like his mom, but he wouldn't be in the big leagues, probably, if he wasn't like his dad. He gets along great with our guys. He's intense, and I think that's what makes him great."

Mr. Mom: The White Sox put Adam Eaton on paternity leave Sunday morning and called up right- hander Michael Ynoa from Double-A Birmingham.

"I'm still in shock," Ynoa said.

But after the rainout, they sent Ynoa back to Birmingham and said Eaton will be available Monday in Minnesota.

Eaton's wife, Katie, gave birth over the weekend to a baby boy, Brayden.

The 6-foot-7 Ynoa, acquired from the A’s last year with Jeff Samardzija in the deal that sent and three other prospects to Oakland, had an interesting first day in the majors. But at least he knows he's on the Sox's radar.

Pitching coach Don Cooper was high on Ynoa's future in spring training, and even if this was going to be a cameo, the hard-throwing pitcher could be a big part of the bullpen before the season is out.

"I did tell him (in spring training) 'You're not far away,'" Cooper said. "It's also nice to be able to have a job where you can see people realize their dreams. It's a lifelong dream for him to be in the big leagues. Well, he's here, and that's a wonderful thing."

Rain date: Sunday's game, which was postponed because of rain, will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 23, starting at 4:10 p.m. Both teams decided it was better to call the game than try to play in the rain.

"It was going to be steady rain all day long," Ventura said. "It wasn't really good reports."

The Sox's rotation will remain intact, with Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and Mat Latos facing the Twins this week in Minnesota.

Sunday's White Sox game postponed due to rain By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune | April 10th, 2016

The White Sox game against Cleveland on Sunday was postponed due to imminent rain showers.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on May 23, starting at 4:10 p.m.

"It was the umpires," manager Robin Ventura said loud enough for the umpires to hear as they walked past him in the tunnel outside the Sox clubhouse. "See. they're already out of here."

The truth was rain was on its way and Ventura said neither team wanted to lose their starters for the day if the game was postponed after it started up.

"It was going to be steady rain all day long," he said. "It wasn't really good reports."

Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon and Mat Latos will face the Twins in the upcoming series in Minnesota.

Reliever Michael Ynoa, called up when Adam Eaton was placed on the paternity list, was sent back to Double-A Birmingham without seeing a game. Eaton will return on Monday.

Adam Eaton off paternity list on Monday By Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune | April 10th, 2016

The White Sox put Adam Eaton on paternity leave before Sunday’s game and called up right- hander Michael Ynoa from Double-A Birmingham.

“I’m still in shock,” Ynoa said.

After the game was called off, Ynoa was sent back to Birmingham and Eaton will return to the team on Monday.

The 6-foot-7-inch reliever was acquired from the A’s last year with Jeff Samardzija in the deal that sent Marcus Semien and three other prospects to Oakland. Ynoa posted a 2.61 earned-run average at Class- A Winston-Salem in 2015, with 40 strikeouts over 38 innings, while missing time with shoulder issues.

“My goal was to work hard and be ready for anything and try to be healthy,” he said.

Eaton’s wife welcomed a baby boy into the world. Manager Robin Ventura said Eaton “hopefully” would be on the flight to Minnesota tonight, and available for the upcoming series against the Twins.

“Just an extra arm down there,” Ventura said of Ynoa. “We feel like we’re insulated enough, player-wise ... Adam gets to enjoy his time today.”

Pitching coach Don Cooper was high on Ynoa’s future in spring training, and even if this is a cameo, the hard-throwing pitcher could be a big part of the bullpen before the season is out. “I did tell him (in spring training) ‘You’re not far away,’” Cooper said. “And boy, was I a prophet. Listen, obviously he did very well in spring training. But it’s also nice to be able to have a job where you can see people realize their dreams. It’s a lifelong dream for him to be in the big leagues. Well, he’s here, and that’s a wonderful thing. And don’t be surprised if you see him in the game today.”

But there was no surprise, because there was no game.

White Sox see no problem with lefty-heavy rotation By Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun-Times | April 10th, 2016

Left-handed pitching always has been a valued commodity, be it starting or relieving.

The belief is that at least one lefty is needed in the rotation and two is even better for the bullpen.

But four left-handed starters? It has been the norm for the White Sox since last season.

“I’m not thinking anything at all about it because it’s just the way it’s been,’’ pitching coach Don Cooper said. “They’re all different. None is the same. The advantage is we have four pretty good .”

Ace Chris Sale is a given, and Carlos Rodon is the promise of now and the future. John Danks is the veteran in his 10th season, perhaps his last on the South Side after the ups and downs of injuries and comebacks.

Then there’s Jose Quintana, whose start Sunday was pushed back when rain postponed the series finale between the Sox and Indians at U.S. Cellular Field. He’ll start Monday at Minnesota.

Quintana, 27, often is overlooked in a group led by Sale. His 63 quality starts since 2013 rank third among American League lefties and seventh among major-league lefties. He has issued three or fewer walks in 114 starts, ranking fifth in the AL since 2012. Sale ranks seventh.

Yet since 2012, Quintana leads the majors in an odd category — no-decisions. He has 53.

“He handles it extremely well,” manager Robin Ventura said. “I know it can be frustrating. I know guys are frustrated for him. But he handles it as well as anybody could. He’s just a good kid.”

The stat speaks as much to Quintana’s abilities as his misfortunes. And speculation always seemed to swirl that Quintana, with a lifetime 33-34 record and 3.46 ERA, would be a valuable trading chip for the Sox.

Instead, he is part of a rotation that Cooper and Ventura consider a strength.

“I don’t know how that all started,’’ Cooper said of misgivings about a predominately left-handed pitching staff. “I’m 60 years old, and people said it even 40 years ago, ‘You have too many lefties.’

“They all throw with their left hand, but that’s it. Their stuff is different, their velocity is different, their angles are different. I never thought of it as, ‘This is a problem.’

“We’re preparing the same way with each guy, and we’re hoping that each guy goes out there and does what I’ll call the White Sox job description, which is go out there for six, seven, eight and sometimes nine innings.”

The notion of right-handed hitters fairing better against lefties is partly a factor because of the presence of more right-handed hitters.

“But I’m not so sure the game is all right-handed,” Cooper said. “I don’t keep numbers on it, but I know there are plenty of good left-handed hitters in the league. [of the Twins] being one of them we’ll see now.

“There are plenty of good left-handed hitters, and there are a lot of [switch hitters]. Listen, if you’re throwing quality pitches, if you’re lefty or righty, you’re got a chance to get people out.”

That’s what it comes down to in Ventura’s mind, as well.

“It’s what we have,’’ he said of the predominantly left-handed rotation. “Would you like to have a little bit of everything? Maybe you’re a little more balanced that way. But I just want our best pitchers, and they happen to be left-handed.”

Bullpen big part of White Sox’ early success By Toni Ginnetti / Chicago Sun-Times | April 10th, 2016

A week into the season, the White Sox’ bullpen has been a key part of the team’s positive start. Its 1.76 ERA through six games is among the best in the league, with only one of seven inherited runners scoring.

“It’s only been six games, but how could I not [like what the bullpen has done],” pitching coach Don Cooper said.

“You need some diversity in there, and you need some guys to be able to do some different things,” manager Robin Ventura said. “We’re going to stretch them in some different ways.”

On Saturday, Matt Albers pitched the final two innings against the Indians, extending his scoreless streak to 25⅓ innings, dating to last season.

“Matty finishing the game was big for us, just to be able to conserve some other guys,” Ventura said. “Last year he was still coming back from injury, and you didn’t want to [extend him] that much. I think he’s kind of evolved into a guy that can come in and get some big outs.”

“You start moving some pieces around, it’s better to be able to use guys later instead of using the same guys over and over again.”

It’s a boy Adam Eaton went on the paternity list Sunday after the birth Saturday of son Brayden, the first child for Eaton and wife Katie.

He’ll be with the team Monday for the start of a three-game series at Minnesota. Being on the paternity list means a player must miss one day, even with no game, but not more than three.

The Sox had recalled rookie pitcher Michael Ynoa, 24, from Class AA Birmingham to take Eaton’s roster spot, but he was sent back.

“He had an interesting day,” Ventura said. “But it’s good. You take a young guy and he gets to be in the clubhouse and put on the uniform and be part of it.”

Better late The Sox’ offense has done what was hoped for with the offseason retooling, but hitting late in games “is probably the biggest thing,” Ventura said.

“You have the ability to come back if a team maybe ties it up or takes the lead. [Players] don’t get too caught up in the disappointment of having it either tied up or losing the lead [because] they can come back and score some runs late on them, and that’s a nice feeling to have. It’s something you have in your pocket that you can continue with.

“You’re not always going to be able to come back and get the lead, but just the quality type of at-bats guys are having you like to see.”

Make-up game The series finale against the Indians, postponed because of rain, will be made up in a straight doubleheader May 23. The first game will begin at 4:10 p.m., with the regularly scheduled game to begin at 7:10 or 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.

Fans can exchange tickets and parking passes for any future regular-season game of equal or lesser value.

More rough weather washes out Chicago White Sox By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald | April 10th, 2016

In Friday's home opener, the Chicago White Sox had to deal with snow showers and winter temperatures.

On Saturday, icy conditions closed the upper deck at U.S. Cellular Field.

Both games were played, and the Sox lost the first to the before bouncing back with a 7-3 victory Saturday.

In keeping with the lousy weather trend for the first homestand of the season, it rained Sunday. Less than an hour before the scheduled first pitch, the game was postponed. On May 23, the Sox and Indians will play a makeup game at 4:10 p.m. as part of a straight doubleheader.

"I think when we kept looking at the weather, we had Tito (Cleveland manager Terry Francona) in there, too, you start getting the reports of what it's going to be and there's a chance you lose both starters," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said.

"It was going to be steady rain all day long. There weren't really good reports. You take that into consideration and move on."

Jose Quintana, Sunday's scheduled Sox starting pitcher, now goes Monday at Minnesota. After Tuesday's day off, Carlos Rodon pitches against the Twins on Wednesday and Mat Latos starts Thursday.

"It just seems when you play here, you have to be ready for that," Ventura said of bad weather. "You have to understand that's just part of being in the Midwest."

The Indians can relate. Three of their first seven games have been postponed. Up and down: Adam Eaton was placed on the paternity leave list Sunday, so the White Sox called up right-handed pitcher Michael Ynoa from Class AA Birmingham to take his roster spot.

The game was postponed by rain, and Eaton was expected to be on the team's charter flight to Minnesota and back in the lineup Monday. On Saturday, Eaton's wife, Katie, gave birth to the couple's first child, son Brayden, in Chicago.

Ynoa, who along with Jeff Samardzija was acquired in a 2014 trade from the Oakland Athletics, made 1 relief appearance for Birmingham this season and pitched a scoreless inning.

"I'm still in shock," the 6-foot-7 Ynoa said about getting the call from the Sox, even if it was just for one postponed game. "I'm happy to be here and thanks to the White Sox for giving me this opportunity. I'm really happy."

Ynoa, 24, made a positive impression in spring training, pitching 5 scoreless innings of relief in the Cactus League while striking out six.

"Michael had an interesting day," manager Robin Ventura said after Sunday's game was called. "It's good for him. I think he would have much rather there had been a game, but you are taking a young kid that earned an opportunity to come up here. He gets to be in the clubhouse, put his uniform on, feel a part of it."

Last season, two bouts with shoulder discomfort limited Ynoa to 28 relief appearances with high Class A Winston-Salem, where he was 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 38 innings.

"He can spin it," Ventura said. "You start looking at the size and the release coming out of his hand, he deserves to be here."

In addition to last year's shoulder issues, Ynoa had Tommy John surgery in 2011.

"That was my focus in the off-season, to work hard and be ready for anything and try to be healthy," Ynoa said. "I worked a lot in the off-season and I think that this was my first year to feel like I'm ready to go."

Bernfield: Not quite contenders, but White Sox clearly improved By Jordan Bernfield / Daily Herald | April 10th, 2016

They traded for Jeff Samardzija, paired him with Chris Sale, and believed it would lengthen the starting rotation and create a formidable 1-2 punch. They signed Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche to bolster their offense. And they signed closer David Robertson, one of the best relievers in the game, to a multiyear deal.

Yes, 2015 was supposed to be memorable year on both sides of town.

Instead, things quickly went south on the South Side. Stained by bad defense, poor fundamentals and underperforming big-name acquisitions, the White Sox quickly sank to the bottom of the standings and were out of the race from the start.

They finished 76-86, fourth place in the AL Central. Management responded by doubling down and adding more pieces for 2016.

General manager Rick Hahn flipped two minor-league pitchers to Oakland for fiery and versatile infielder Brett Lawrie, bolstering the team's defense and providing an offensive upgrade at second base.

Then he made an offer the Reds and Dodgers couldn't refuse for The ToddFather. In the seven-player swap, the White Sox acquired all-star Todd Frazier from Cincinnati, while sending three prospects to Los Angeles. Frazier should be the best White Sox third baseman since Joe Crede.

Clearly, the team isn't interested in tearing things down. They believe they can win right now.

Can they?

The team's resurgence depends on whether those veterans who disappointed in 2015 return to their career averages. The three left-handers atop the White Sox' rotation -- Chris Sale, Jose Quintana and youngster Carlos Rodon -- must deliver consistent performance. And the newcomers need to be a lot better than the newcomers were last season.

With Frazier, Lawrie and shortstop , the White Sox have veterans across the diamond and better defense. They also offer leadership and grit -- qualities the Sox appeared to lack last year.

Rollins provides mentorship to developing shortstop Tyler Saladino and was a positive influence on future shortstop Tim Anderson in spring training.

Neither Dioner Navarro nor Alex Avila figures to be great behind the plate but together should be better offensively than Tyler Flowers. Among American League with at least 250 at-bats last season, Flowers' .295 on-base percentage and 9 home runs ranked 11th in the American League.

Austin Jackson solidifies the Sox' defense in the outfield, while righty Mat Latos has an opportunity to flourish in the fourth spot in the starting rotation without pressure to be more than adequate.

All of these moves look good on paper, just as the moves did last season. The White Sox still might not have enough talent to reach the postseason for the first time since 2008, however, unless they find a little luck along the way.

But they will be better. Expect them to be in the race until the end of the season. It might not be the playoff run the organization hopes for, but it's progress.

Levine: White Sox Relievers Utilizing iPad Videos To Prepare By Bruce Levine / CBS Chicago | April 10th, 2016

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Chicago White Sox are using the state-of-the-art iPad advance in video to help their bullpen men be ready for their next assignment.

In any looming situation for any of the team’s seven relievers, just a click onto the Internet will quickly give each pitcher the latest at-bats from the opposition in an instant while they sit in the bullpen.

“With the iPads for each guy, we can have them see video of any guy they will face that night,” pitching coach Don Cooper said. “We now have video to back up what we tell our pitchers before the game, with the visuals to back up the words.”

Cooper has a diverse group of bullpen guys who love to take advantage of every nuance available.

“We can show them the hitter who takes the breaking ball for a strike early,” Cooper said. “We have learned that some of the guys are visual learners. In other words, you can talk to some pitchers all you want, but the learning curve for many jumps when they can see what you’re talking about.”

The White Sox historically have always been ahead of the curve taking advantage of the little aspects of the game (stealing signs, freezing and heating in pregame) as a part of getting a competitive edge. “Video has been around for a while,” Cooper said. “They all have access to it. Some use the video, some don’t. The difference is they can get an up-to-the-minute scouting report and video before their appearances instantly. It was always more verbal. We are now backing it up with the visuals.”

The White Sox bullpen is a versatile group. While many teams are loading up on relievers who hit the radar gun at 96 to 100 mph, Chicago boasts Nate Jones, who gets it up to 99 mph on a regular basis, as well as others who rely on a different type of arsenal.

“Robby can get strikeouts,” Cooper said of closer David Robertson, who has five different pitches in his tool box. “Any of our guys can get strikeouts if they get ahead in the count. You cannot get strike three until you get one and two. We do have guys who are different, who can get ground balls with their stuff. Look at Matt Albers. He keeps the ball down with good movement. He has a great change-up. Now his velocity has come back a little more. That makes him even more dangerous. We feel comfortable now to use him in any situation in a tight game.”

The White Sox bullpen has a 1.76 ERA through the first six games of the season, helping the team get off to a 4-2 start. The coaches have been thrilled with the results as well as the approach.

“We have diverse guys who can pitch to contact and get groundball outs,” Albers said. “We definitely talk in the pen about how to attack hitters. We look at little mechanical things that each of us do and try to help the other guy. All of us throw a little different. I think that is a good thing, because we all seem to learn from each other. We look at Robby’s cutter or a sidearm pitch like Zach Duke. All of us bring different things to the table that helps us learn the trade.”

White Sox-Indians Game Postponed Due To Rain By CBS Staff / CBS Chicago | April 10th, 2016

(CBS) Sunday’s game between the White Sox and Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field has been postponed due to rain, the White Sox announced.

The two teams will play a make-up game on May 23 as part of a straight doubleheader, with the first game beginning at 4:10 p.m. and the second game 30 minutes after the first game finishes.

Fans can exchange their game tickets and parking coupons for tickets of equal or lesser value for any future game. The exchanges must be done at the U.S. Cellular Field box office.

White Sox Call Up Pitcher Michael Ynoa; Adam Eaton Placed On Paternity List By CBS Staff / CBS Chicago | April 10th, 2016

(CBS) The Chicago White Sox have called up right-hander Michael Ynoa from Double-A Birmingham ahead of Sunday’s game with the Cleveland Indians, with outfielder Adam Eaton being placed on the paternity list.

The 24-year-old Ynoa has pitched one inning so far this year in Birmingham, giving up zero runs and striking out one. Last year with Class-A Winston-Salem, Ynoa went 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA, six saves and 40 strikeouts in 28 relief appearances.

Eaton’s wife Katie gave birth to the couple’s first child, Brayden, on Saturday.

Every five days: Chris Sale had no sleeves, little heat and enough to win By Jon Greenberg / The Athletic | April 10th, 2016 This is the first in a series of in-depth looks into Chris Sale pitching appearances at U.S. Cellular Field this season.

It was 32 degrees at first pitch Saturday at U.S. Cellular Field, so cold that Canadian Brett Lawrie wore a balaclava on his head at second base.

It was so cold the White Sox had to close the upper deck because they couldn’t get rid of the black ice and move those fans into the 100-level.

But when it came time for his first home start of the season, White Sox left-hander Chris Sale went out with short sleeves, just like normal.

“That was smart,” manager Robin Ventura joked after his post-game press conference, following a 7-3 victory over Cleveland. “He’s probably the thickest guy out there.”

Sale is listed at 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, a little heavier than his rookie year, when some of the Sox veterans used to call him Flat Stanley. But he burns hot, as his boss Kenny Williams knows too well .

But after Sale pitched seven solid innings, he laughed at the idea of a thin “Dri-FIT” shirt protecting him.

“When it’s 32 degrees, I really don’t think this right here,” he said touching the sleeve of a shirt that stayed in his locker all game, “is going to do a whole heck of a lot.”

The announced attendance was 20,192 and in the sun, the weather was bearable. It was fortunate the team gave away branded winter hats with the ear flaps. Everyone was wearing them. With the upper deck fans sent to the lower bowl, it looked full, especially in the third base side, and most of the bleachers, which got sun. Walking through the concourse, however, was not enjoyable. Playing in the weather wasn’t very comfortable either.

“I told John Danks before the game, pitching in cold weather is like getting punched in the face,” Sale said. “You never really get used to it, you just handle it better. It’s never fun. ”

I’m not sure what that means, but whatever works for him.

Sale pitches about 16 times a season at home. Before Saturday’s game, I asked Ventura if it’s a different feeling waking up and driving to the park knowing Sale will be on the mound.

“For me, you have a smile on your face coming to the ballpark,” Ventura said. “You know you have one of the better pitchers in the league. I think the team has that, too. You have a guy like him going, you feel pretty good about it. You wouldn’t think it would be different, but it’s different when you know he’s going.”

Cleveland Mike Napoli said facing Sale is a challenge he looks forward to because of his unique pitching style and well-earned ace reputation.

“He’s not a generic lefty,” he said.

Sale was effective Saturday, but he didn’t have too many Chris Sale moments. If you were at the game and you wanted a tingle going up your arm, you should have ordered a $12 spiked hot cocoa .

Sale struck out “just” six batters, after striking out eight in the season opener in Oakland. Last season, Sale struck out six or fewer just seven times in 31 starts last season, with four coming in his second, third, fourth and fifth starts.

He still cranked up his fastball to 96 mph a few times, but his average fastball velocity, according to Brooks Baseball, was around 91 mph. He threw all four pitches, had a feel for his slider and got some key outs with his nasty changeup as well. He walked two and gave up two home runs.

Catcher Alex Avila said Sale worked through some early, weather-related discomfort. While the conventional wisdom is that cold-weather games are harder on hitters than pitchers, Avila said that’s not quite true. It has more to do with the grip of the ball, than anything with the pitcher’s arm.

“Hitting in cold weather is difficult because it’s a wood bat, obviously, and it’s going to hurt sometimes when you swing the bat,” he said. “But for a pitcher with the ball, you need that moisture, you need that kind of tackiness. When it’s dry like this, and it’s extremely cold, the numbness in your fingers, you just lose feel, which can be dangerous at times, because as a pitcher he may not know where it’s going. It’s something pitchers, especially in northern cities, they have to figure out how to make it work in the first month of the season.”

In the previous three seasons, we only found two other games Sale started in sub-45 degree weather, both in April of 2013. Sale’s fastball averaged just 91 mph and 93 mph, respectively, in those games, allaying any fear that the relative dip in velocity seen Saturday was related to anything other than the weather. To no one’s surprise, Sale wore short sleeves in both of those outings as well.

Three years later, Sale needed 25 pitches to get out of the first inning u nscathed, but he needed 11 in each of the next two innings and 14 in the fourth and nine in the fifth. He pitched three straight 1 - 2-3 innings, which included five consecutive groundouts. The Sox gave Sale a 2-0 lead. Jose Abreu homered in the third and Avisail Garcia scored on an error in the fourth.

Sale started the sixth by striking out Rajai Davis on three pitches and then blew away Jason Kipnis with 96 mph heat, four mph higher than his previous two fastballs. But then Francisco Lindor singled to shortstop and Napoli ambushed Sale by homering off a first-pitch 84 mph changeup.

Going by MLB’s PITCHf/x information, Napoli saw five changeups from Sale his two previous at- bats and he didn’t swing at any them. Three were for called strikes and two were balls .

“I probably called one too many to him there,” Avila said. “I was hoping to get away with that first one and come back hard inside for the rest of that at-bat, but he was able to get kind of underneath it.”

“He’s a good hitter and a strong hitter,” Sale said. “I don’t know if he was sitting on it or reacting to it. Either way, it ended up over the fence.”

I didn’t get a chance to talk to Napoli after the game, but his pre-game words proved prophetic.

“It’s hard,” he said of facing Sale. “You know it’s going to be a tough day, so you just have to find a way, hope he makes a couple mistakes and you don’t miss a pitch.”

Sale was actually throwing much better in the sixth than he was earlier in the game. Avila thought it was his best inning.

“Sale was starting to kick it in gear,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “You could tell he was starting to smell it a little bit. He had a little extra on it those last couple innings he pitched. ”

The Indians took the lead on Sale in the seventh when Yan Gomes led off with a home run. Gomes homered on a 90 mph fastball right over the heart of the plate. Sale had thrown him a 96 mph fastball on 2-2 but it missed.

Sale said Gomes’ homer “was a two-seamer down and I was trying to get it down and I didn’t do that enough.” He finished the inning, throwing 107 pitches.

His offense picked him up in the bottom of the inning, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh. Austin Jackson and Jimmy Rollins started it off with sharp singles to left and Abreu was intentionally walked with first base open. Todd Frazier tied the game at 3-3 with a bases loaded fielder’s choice, Melky Cabrera gave the Sox the lead with a single and Garcia cranked a three -run homer.

Sale got his second win of the season. While writers and analysts bemoan the win statistic, pitchers still like a little validation for their effort. But Sale really wants some team wins. He hasn’t been to the playoffs yet and the last three seasons have been outright disasters. Whenever a team is like the White Sox, coming off a bad season and flush with new players, it’s easy to talk about a “new vibe” and a gung-ho approach in April. Sale seems to believe in all of that jazz right now.

In this game, he got the results to back it up his optimism, and a comeback victory for himself and the team.

“For him, it was nice to go through,” Ventura said. “It was nice to get him one of these when he gives up something later.”

Challenge to White Sox, ESPN hosts: Recite Chance the Rapper lyrics By Phil Muschnick / The New York Post | April 11th, 2016

Help me with this; I’m lost.

Chicago is now known as our murder capital. Gun-toting, itchy-fingered gang members, as young as 14, daily and nightly murdering and being murdered — children shooting children dead — over nothing more than a sideways glance, the wrong-color shirt, a bag of weed, and, now in at least its 27th year, status- symbol sneakers.

Then there are the “stray bullet” victims of all ages.

And Chicago isn’t much worse than most cities. Among the busiest keepin’-it-real businesses in the ’hood are those that quickly produce “R.I.P” T-shirts carrying a photo of the murdered. Collect ’em all! Trade ’em with your friends, while the supply of friends last.

Last week, the Chicago White Sox were revealed to be forming a paid partnership with Chance the Rapper, assigning him to become the team’s “Ambassador.”

Chance’s real name is Chancelor Bennett; he’s 22, unmarried with a child, grew up in suburban Chicago. His father had been a political operative for Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, then for Illinois Senator Barack Obama and now for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Chance, who often wears a White Sox cap, was selected to throw out the first pitch in this year’s White Sox home opener.

Beyond that — and far below — Chance records and sells pro forma, no-upside, can’t-expect-better-from- us, women-denigrating, blood-on-the-breeze rap.

It was suggested that I choose from random any of Chance’s songs to get a sense of whom the White Sox would choose as their first “Ambassador” — as if such an appointment by an MLB team is now essential.

I spun the Google wheel and landed on “Smoke Again,” which begins, “l don’t even talk to them on the phone again. Leave in the a.m., on the road again. So, b—h, let’s f–k so I can smoke again. I gotta smoke again, I got s–t to do.”

From there it “grows” more vulgar and, as per the genre, more boastful. Standard dehumanizing gangsta rap — young black men are N—-s”, he’s especially fond of dope and regards young women as a sub- species in over-and-out service to his immediate libidinous whims, especially oral sex.

Don’t take my word for it; look for yourself.

One wonders how MLB’s domestic violence policy, issued just last August, would read in juxtaposition to Chance’s work and his candidacy as payrolled “Ambassador” for an MLB team.

Would Mayor Emanuel, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Chicago Rev. Jesse Jackson recite his lyrics in public?

What about White Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, 52-year-old African-American? Will he publicly support the addition of a young man who publicly and professionally refers to black men as N—- s, and young women as easily discarded sexual junk as “The man we want on our team!”?

Let’s hear, too, from ESPN’s Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, who last week on their show gave this proposal their full endorsement.

What better way, they enthusiastically reasoned, to grow interest in baseball among the young than to hook a team to Chance? What better way, they added, to sell team merchandise?

If that’s not just standard media pandering — if they’d choose such artistry to create interest in sports among the kids in their lives — then Golic and Greenberg will have no trouble demonstrating the courage of their conviction: Read on air the words to “Keep Smoking”; cite it as evidence of how he’ll stimulate interest in the White Sox among Chicago youth.

For crying out loud, how much faster can we run backwards? How much lower can we fall? And, for what it’s worth, Chance, in September, became the father of a daughter.

Darius Fleming Throws Out First Pitch For White Sox By Tim Moran / The Patch | April 10th, 2016

The St. Rita alum and NFL linebacker saved a woman's life in January. On Saturday, he inspired the South Siders to a win over Cleveland.

CHICAGO, IL - Darius Fleming tossed out the first pitch, Chris Sale threw a lot of others and Avisail Garcia provided the highlight offensively as the Chicago White Sox picked up their first home victory of the season Saturday.

Fleming, a St. Rita High School graduate who went on to play football at Notre Dame and is now a linebacker for the New England Patriots, was honored before the start of the White Sox' second game of the 2016 season at U.S. Cellular Field for saving the life of a woman involved in a fiery car crash in Massachusetts in January.

White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon caught the ceremonial first pitch from Fleming, who seemed to spark the team on the field. Behind a solid starting performance from Sale and a three-run home run from Garcia to spark a five-run inning, the White Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 7-3 and are now 4-2 on the season.

Adam Eaton out Sunday after birth of child By ESPN News Services / ESPN.com | April 10th, 2016

The Chicago White Sox placed outfielder Adam Eaton on the paternity list Sunday and recalled right- handed pitcher Michael Ynoa from Double-A Birmingham.

The White Sox announced earlier Sunday that Eaton's wife, Katie, gave birth to the couple's first child -- a boy, Brayden, who weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce. Eaton left the team Saturday to be with his wife.

Manager Robin Ventura said he expects Eaton to join the White Sox on their trip to Minnesota on Sunday. The White Sox play the Twins in their home opener Monday.

Eaton has been hot to start the 2016 season, leading the White Sox in batting average (.450), hits (nine) and on-base percentage (.500).

Ynoa has yet to pitch in the majors and threw one scoreless inning in Double-A. He went 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA, six saves and 40 strikeouts in 38 innings with Class A Winston-Salem last season. The White Sox acquired Ynoa from Oakland in 2014.

White Sox put Adam Eaton on paternity list By Sarah Trotto / The Associated Press | April 10th, 2016

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox recalled right-handed pitcher Michael Ynoa from Double-A Birmingham and put outfielder Adam Eaton on the paternity list before their game against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

Eaton left the team on Saturday, when his wife Katie gave birth to their first child, Brayden. Manager Robin Ventura said he expects Eaton to join the White Sox on their trip to Minnesota on Sunday. The White Sox play the Twins in their home opener on Monday.

Eaton is off to a strong start at the plate, going 9 for 20 with a double, triple and two runs scored in five games.

Ynoa has yet to pitch in the majors and threw one scoreless inning in Double-A. He went 0-2 with a 2.61 ERA, six saves and 40 strikeouts in 38 innings with Class A Winston-Salem last season. The White Sox acquired Ynoa from Oakland in 2014.

"I'm still in shock," Ynoa said. "I'm happy to be here and thanks to the White Sox for giving me this opportunity."

Indians at White Sox postponed because of rain By The Associated Press | April 10th, 2016

The White Sox’s game against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday has been postponed because of rain.

The game will be made up on May 23 as part of a doubleheader that will begin at 4:10 p.m. The second game will start at 7:10 p.m. or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

The Indians have had three games rained out so far this season. The White Sox and Indians split the first two games of their series. Cleveland won 7-1 on Friday before losing 7-3 on Saturday.

The White Sox play the Minnesota Twins on Monday in their home opener. The Indians are off on Monday before beginning a series against Tampa Bay.