Shane Smith, the White Sox starting pitcher, threw only 46 pitches in a three-inning outing against the Cleveland Guardians, marking his second-shortest game of the season. This change was part of a strategy to manage his innings as he approaches the 86.2 mark this season, nearing his career-high. Manager Will Venable indicated that they would take a start-by-start approach to navigate Smith's workload while focusing on winning games. Smith showcased potential by successfully striking out notable hitters, reflecting the aggressive mentality desired by the manager.
Smith threw a season-low 46 pitches in Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians, exiting after three innings due to workload management.
Manager Will Venable confirmed that the short outing was a strategic decision to manage Smith's innings, emphasizing the need to protect him throughout the season.
Venable highlighted the dual priorities of winning games and managing Smith's workload, stating they'll reevaluate his status at every rotation turn to ensure the right decisions have been made.
In the first inning, Smith displayed aggression by striking out All-Stars Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez with fastballs, demonstrating the effectiveness of his approach.
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