The Chicago White Sox have made a bullpen change ahead of their American League Division Series matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, replacing right-handed reliever Huascar Brazobán with Tyler Davis.
The move was the only change to Chicago’s 26-man roster after its two-game sweep of the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series. It also gives manager Will Venable another option against Cleveland’s lineup.
James Fegan of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the change on Saturday, ahead of Game 1 at Progressive Field.
Venable explained that the decision came down to the Guardians’ left-handed-heavy roster. Davis offers a more neutral matchup profile and was viewed as a better option against left-handed hitters than Brazobán.
The decision followed Brazobán’s difficult appearance against Houston. He faced three batters in Game 2, retiring only one before Anthony Kay entered to get the White Sox out of the inning.
Davis now has an opportunity to contribute in a postseason series where Chicago expects to rely heavily on its bullpen. With several left-handed hitters in Cleveland’s lineup, his ability to handle different matchups could prove useful as the series progresses.
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The roster decision came as Chicago prepared for a challenging matchup against the Guardians, who finished ahead of the White Sox in the AL Central. Cleveland’s lineup presents a different challenge from Houston’s, making bullpen flexibility an important consideration.
The White Sox opened the series with a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run homer, while Chicago’s pitching staff combined for a three-hit shutout to take an early 1-0 lead.
Davis’ inclusion does not guarantee a major role, but Venable has made his matchup preference clear. The rookie right-hander will be available if Chicago needs him as it looks to carry its momentum deeper into October.
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