Shane Smith matched a career high with eight strikeouts for the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles.
But the right-hander also walked five and hit a batter, throwing 99 pitches before exiting after 3 2/3 innings.
Because of Smith’s continuing command issues, the White Sox on Wednesday optioned their opening-day starter to Triple-A Charlotte.
Smith is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA in three starts, allowing 10 earned runs in 8 1/3 innings with nine walks and 11 strikeouts.
“Clearly he is in a spot where he needs to get to the best version of himself and he’s not quite there right now,” Sox manager Will Venable said before Wednesday’s matinee against the Orioles at Rate Field. “As he continues to work through the things that he needs to do to get there, we can’t have that happen here where it comes with the cost of wins, at the cost of our bullpen.
“He understands that and was accountable to that. Give him a chance to go down to Charlotte with a very clear, structured plan and really get back to dominating with the four-seam fastball. It’s what we’ve seen from him and part of his superpower, what makes him great. That will be the focus for him.”
Smith, 26, selected in the Rule 5 draft in December 2024, was the team’s lone All-Star representative last year, becoming the first rookie pitcher in franchise history to be selected for the game. He finished the season 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts.
He struggled in the March 26 season opener, allowing three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Smith followed that start by surrendering seven earned runs on eight hits in three innings on April 1 against the Marlins in Miami.
Smith didn’t allow a run and allowed only one hit in his Tuesday start, but he didn’t make it through the fourth inning because of the high pitch count.
“I think about games last year where ‘Gosh, he’s bullying guys with his fastball in the zone,'” Venable said. “He’s really confident in it. I haven’t see that this year, and that’s what he will be working on. I thought (Tuesday) was a really good example when he is good and in the zone, he’s getting a ton of swing-and-miss. The curveball, the changeup was really good. Really it was the four-seam fastball throughout, yanking it a lot and not real confident in using it. A little too erratic for him to be effective.
“He’s going to be working on that four-seam fastball and the total mix. Clean up some things in his pregame and in his bullpens and some mechanical stuff and get him right back on track.”
The Sox and Smith have been making changes to his delivery, with the right-hander telling the Tribune on Monday: “Obviously I need to make adjustments. The way I’ve been throwing the ball is not good enough. I’m just trying to make those adjustments and make sure I can go out (Tuesday) and feel confident in my ability to throw the ball.”
After Tuesday’s game, Smith told reporters: “It’s tough to do, make those adjustments and you get in a game and you are trying to, where are your priorities. I think I did some well. On some others, I didn’t do as well. Definitely something I want to continue doing and make sure this week is a good week.”
The work will continue with Charlotte.
“He’s a total pro, took accountability,” Venable said. “Understands the spot he’s putting the team in and really it’s about getting him to be the best version of himself. This guy is a very good pitcher who is a very important part of this organization and an important part of our success.
“He understands that and wants to be right and the best version of himself. He’s on board and he’ll go to work with a good attitude and he’s excited to make his adjustments and he knows it will be a short-term thing and getting right back to what we expect him to do in the big leagues.”
In corresponding moves, the Sox selected the contract of left-hander Tyler Schweitzer from Charlotte and transferred outfielder/infielder Brooks Baldwin (right elbow surgery) to the 60-day injured list.
Schweitzer, 25, has a 1.80 ERA in two relief appearances with Charlotte this season, allowing one earned run on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts in five innings. He is 22-15 with a 4.13 ERA and 342 strikeouts in 344 innings during 77 games (57 starts) over five minor-league seasons in the Sox organization. He will work out of the bullpen.
As for the team’s immediate plans to fill Smith’s slot, Venable said, “Once this rotation spot comes up, we’ll evaluate where we are at and make a decision.”
