CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- As a free agent this past winter, veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel was drawn to White Sox and their promising young core.
The appeal was certainly mutual for the White Sox, who were in need of an accomplished, consistent pitcher like Keuchel in their rotation. They were seeking someone who would give them a strong chance to win each fifth day, and that's exactly what they did in Keuchel's debut with the team Saturday afternoon.
With Keuchel helping lead the way, the White Sox earned a 10-3 victory over the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. Facing Minnesota's "Bomba Squad" lineup that set an MLB record for team home runs in 2019, Keuchel earned the win by going 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on three hits as he induced a groundball rate of 61.1%.
For Keuchel, it was an old-school approach in this ever-evolving game.
"The age-old tale of baseball is how well you can pitch," Keuchel said. "Not a lot of guys can pitch anymore. You're adding on 30 minutes to the game instead of subtracting 30 minutes from the average time frame. I just keep it simple.
"The oohs and ahhs of spin rate and velocity is out of control right now, which makes me more comfortable in my position than I've ever been before."
When the White Sox signed Keuchel to a three-year, $55-million deal in late December, it further legitimized them as a contender. If right-hander Lucas Giolito is the staff ace, Keuchel is option 1B.
The 2015 AL Cy Young winner, Keuchel was a key part of the Astros' rise from a rebuilding club to a perennial American League contender. He posted a 3.67 ERA over eight seasons in Houston, finding success by forcing weak contact as opposed to overpowering hitters.
Since Keuchel's breakthrough season in 2014, he leads all MLB starters with a 60% groundball rate. The next-closest starter with more than 1,000 innings of work is Reds right-hander Sonny Gray, whose 52.8% ground-ball rate is a distant second to Keuchel's.
"He's almost a dying breed in today's game," White Sox catcher James McCann said. "He attacks the strike zone and mixes all four pitches consistently.
"That's Dallas being Dallas."
Though the White Sox's lineup is loaded with power, they may only go as far as their starting rotation allows. Giolito had a breakthrough 2019 season but must continue to prove himself. Reynaldo Lopez was 10-15 with a 5.38 ERA last season, while Dylan Cease was 4-7 with a 5.79 ERA. Carlos Rodon has rejoined the rotation after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2019. Michael Kopech also opted out of playing in 2020 after he too was slated to return from Tommy John surgery.
The White Sox's belief is that having Keuchel alongside Giolito at the top of the rotation will offer the kind of quality that can solidify their place as a contender.
And that's what Keuchel signed up for with the White Sox.
"You want to come to the ballpark knowing you have a great chance of winning every day," Keuchel said.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
