The Chicago White Sox will give right-hander Yoendrys Gomez another starting opportunity when they open a three-game road series in Atlanta against the surging Braves.
Any positive sign is beneficial for the White Sox, who have lost four straight and 11 of their last 13.
The Braves are coming off a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Guardians. They have a season-best five-game winning streak and have won eight of nine overall.
The White Sox have won two of three against the Braves for two straight seasons. The Braves swept Chicago in a three-game set in 2019.
Gomez (2-1, 5.56 ERA) will face fellow right-hander Spencer Strider (5-10, 4.69) of Atlanta in the series opener.
Gomez made his first career start on Tuesday when the pitching-depleted Sox recalled him from Triple-A Charlotte. He gave the team a huge boost by working five strong innings against visiting Detroit, allowing only one run on one hit with a career-high seven strikeouts.
“It was special because it was my first start in the majors,” Gomez said. “I’m just glad the organization gave me the chance and also because I was able to take advantage of it.”
Gomez started the year with the New York Yankees and was placed on waivers. He signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who released him after three appearances. He was signed by the White Sox on May 10 and sent to the minors. He was 1-1 with a 6.62 ERA in 12 combined relief appearances.
“Gomez was outstanding,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “Our player development group in Triple-A did an outstanding job. He’s got a lot of different pitches, and for him to command them like he is now, you see the results. It’s huge and really nice to see a guy go to work and get positive results.”
Gomez has made one career appearance against Atlanta. He threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Braves in 2024.
Strider has struggled to regain the form he showed as a 20-game winner in 2023 before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. Over the last two starts, both losses, he has allowed a total of 13 runs and 19 hits in 8 2/3 innings and failed to get out of the fifth inning in either game. He surrendered eight runs in four innings with three homers allowed against the New York Mets on Tuesday.
“You’re never going to be perfect,” Strider said. “Mistakes are frustrating, and I try to really focus on a process and routine that puts me in the best position possible to execute each pitch. The room for error comes from having good stuff and stuff that’s consistent enough that you know what’s coming out of your hand.”
Strider has made one career start against the White Sox and took a loss after giving up five runs in six innings, albeit with 10 strikeouts, in July 2023.
While Strider has struggled at times, the Atlanta bullpen has been excellent. The Braves’ relievers have a 1.58 ERA in August, allowing 11 earned runs in 62 2/3 innings. Closer Raisel Iglesias has made 11 consecutive scoreless appearances and has not allowed a run in the month of August since 2022.
“The bullpen has been nails,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “We’ve been playing really good. It’s like we’re hitting on all cylinders for the first time all year.”