CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- As the White Sox look ahead in their rebuild, a main area to address is their starting pitching.
This 2019 campaign has seen right-hander Lucas Giolito flash ace potential but also featured right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (5.76 ERA) and left-hander Carlos Rodon being sidelined by Tommy John surgery. Beyond them, right-hander Michael Kopech has been out all year undergoing Tommy John rehab after surgery last September.
All that makes rookie right-hander Dylan Cease development even more crucial than perhaps initially thought. Cease has just now arrived on the big league scene, with a 6.19 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 16 innings in his first three starts.
Early on, the 23-year-old Cease has discovered that there's a small margin for error in the big leagues. In a 4-2 loss to the Rays on Sunday, Cease allowed all the damage in the second inning via a grand slam. It was enough to do him in, even though he navigated the other four frames in a five-inning outing without allowing a runner past first base.
"It is reassuring to know that others have struggled and got through it," Cease said. "For me, it has been about one bad inning every outing so far. My goal is to minimize that, and talking to all the guys about what they see I am doing. Just having a better plan next time is what it is about."
Cease can turn to Giolito for advice for how to deal with struggles. Giolito posted an MLB-worst 6.13 ERA in 2018 and was often left in starts despite getting hit hard, as the White Sox wanted him to build up his endurance and learn to make adjustments while dealing with adversity.
"Some days, I can make adjustments on the field," Cease said. "Some days, it is a little harder than others. Sometimes the ball has been cutting a little bit naturally and I have to compensate for that to keep my command. The little things I learn every day are helping me get more consistent."
The White Sox believe Cease has the composure and mental approach to deal with whatever he encounters on his learning curve.
"I am pretty calm going into my starts," Cease said. "For me, having to take a breath is never really an issue. I am learning that if a big inning happens, I am not to attached to that result. The next moment, I think what I have to do next -- just keep moving forward at the moment."
While the White Sox have a hands-on approach with their young pitchers, they also make a point to give them room to breathe.
"We will do everything we can to allow him and the other pitchers to work, pitch, compete and have some help behind them," Renteria said. "On Sunday, he cleaned it back up (after the grand slam) and went five innings. The rest of the game when he was in there, he kept them at bay. If you saw him coming off of that mound, he looked right at me and said, 'I am still ready to go.' I said, 'OK, just keep going.' I was not concerned with his strength or emotion. He was ready to go back out. I had to trust my eyes, and he was able to get through it and do a nice job."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
