A pair of mid-rotation starters who enjoyed solid springs will oppose one another on Sunday afternoon as the host Chicago White Sox close a season-opening series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Chicago and Los Angeles split the first two games, with the Angels regrouping from an 8-1 loss on Opening Day to record a 1-0 win on Saturday behind a combined two-hit shutout.
White Sox right-hander Davis Martin and Los Angeles counterpart Jack Kochanowicz, who both parlayed successes last season into positive results in spring training, will try to pitch their clubs to a series win.
Martin showed his durability after returning from Tommy John surgery in July, making 25 career appearances (19 starts). He is 3-11 with a 4.61 ERA but struggled against the Angels, going 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA in two starts covering just 8 2/3 innings.
He allowed one run in nine innings this spring, scattering three hits, one walk and eight strikeouts. He pitched five innings against the Athletics on Monday in Chicago’s final Cactus League game.
“I want to go deep in games, and I want to take pressure off our bullpen, whatever that looks like,” Martin said. “If it’s 10 punchouts, go six innings, whatever. Every game is going to be different, so I just try to go out there and execute pitches. Whatever happens, happens.”
Kochanowicz was 2-6 with a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie last season, including a pair of sterling September no-decisions against Chicago. He scattered one run and eight hits in 14 innings over two starts with zero walks against nine strikeouts. The lone blemish: Andrew Vaughn’s solo shot in an Angels’ 4-3 victory on Sept. 18.
Reliant on an effective power sinker — “He’s getting 13-14 ground balls a game,” Los Angeles manager Ron Washington said – Kochanowicz focused during the offseason on bolstering the rest of his arsenal in a bid to boost his strikeout totals. He fanned 25 batters in 65 1/3 innings in 2024.
“Last year gave me a ton of confidence, just that my stuff really does work at that level,” Kochanowicz said during spring training. “I think I just have to continue to go to my strength, which is getting ground balls. The strikeouts will come as long as I improve the other stuff. But I just need to stay with my strengths.”
Facing another pitcher who keeps the ball low may be discouraging news for the White Sox. After Austin Slater, Andrew Benintendi and Lenyn Sosa smacked home runs on Thursday, Chicago managed only two singles against Jose Soriano and two relievers on Saturday.
The starting rotation remains an early strong suit for the White Sox, with young righties Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon combining to deliver 11 scoreless innings in the first two games.
Angels center fielder Jo Adell said he’s OK after leaving Saturday’s game with left hip tightness. Adell experienced discomfort while beating out an infield single but said after the game he doesn’t expect to miss time.
–Field Level Media
