Catcher James McCann helped the Chicago White Sox to a series victory at the Toronto Blue Jays with a pair of multi-hit games.
Now, the White Sox will look to McCann to steer them to a successful homestand.
McCann enters Monday’s series opener against the American League Central Division rival Cleveland Indians with a .382 batting average in 24 games. The sixth-year veteran, who signed with the White Sox in the offseason after beginning his career with the Detroit Tigers, credits the adjustment of opening his stance for his early-season surge.
“The big thing for me is getting my body out of the way, and that’s what the open stance has done,” McCann told reporters. “It’s allowed me to see the ball and allowed me to keep my body out of my swing and allowed my hands to work.”
McCann followed Saturday’s 4-for-5, two-double effort with a 2-for-4 game on Sunday.
As he splits time behind the plate with veteran Welington Castillo, McCann is resolved to making the most of his at-bats as he hopes to earn more starts for the White Sox.
A simplified approach and even-keeled demeanor have been crucial components. McCann boasts 12 multi-hit games this season, but the key, he said, is not even remembering he has one.
“Something I’ve learned over my career is that some of the times where you’re failing or not having success, it’s because you’re trying to do too much,” McCann said. “So my big thing is taking what’s given to me and not trying to hit the seven-run homer that is impossible to hit … to make up for the last six, seven, eight at-bats of no results.”
Success at the plate has coincided with positive contributions behind it, as well.
On Saturday, McCann caught the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stealing at second base in the first inning before delivering an alert play in the sixth. By covering third base on a run-down, McCann allowed the White Sox to catch Guerrero on the bases and eliminate an additional threat.
McCann has caught 13 of Chicago’s 18 victories.
“He’s been doing a really nice job,” manager Rick Renteria said. “One of the things that we knew about him when we first acquired him is that he can really work behind the plate.”
Cleveland comes to Guaranteed Rate Field for a two-game series. The Indians and White Sox have split their first six meetings of the season.
Cleveland right-hander Shane Bieber (2-1, 3.32 ERA) is set to oppose Chicago’s Reynaldo Lopez (2-4, 6.38 ERA), who took a no-decision against the Indians in his most recent start.
After winning the first two games of a four-game set in Cleveland last week, the White Sox suffered a walk-off defeat in the third game the series and lost a rain-shortened shutout in the finale.
The Indians salvaged the finale of their weekend series in Oakland, defeating the Athletics 5-3 on Sunday after losing the first two games of the set by one run.
Center fielder Leonys Martin has provided a steadying presence to the Indians’ lineup after recently enduring an 8-for-52 slump. He hit a home run and a game-tying single on Saturday and added another hit Sunday.
“I’ve started to slow things down a little bit,” Martin told reporters.