Right-hander Davis Martin is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start for the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday against the host Houston Astros in the third game of a four-game series.
The teams split the first two games.
Martin (9-6, 4.32 ERA) last started for the White Sox on Aug. 13 against the Cincinnati Reds, logging two innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits and one walk with three strikeouts. He landed on the IL after that game with a blister on a finger on his right hand.
The time off gave the injury a chance to heal while allowing Martin to regroup. He had been in the conversation for the American League Cy Young Award early this season, when his record stood at 8-1 with a 2.04 ERA after defeating the Minnesota Twins on May 28. He had made seven quality starts to that point.
Since then, he has posted a 1-5 record and 7.06 ERA in his past 13 starts — only two of them considered quality starts. He has not won a game since the White Sox defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on June 10 in Chicago.
Martin made one rehab start at Triple-A Charlotte and gave up one hit in five innings, walked one and struck out five last Thursday. He told MLB.com that he can return to being the dominant pitcher he was earlier in the season.
“That’s the belief for me, my expectation now. That’s who I need to be and that’s who I am,” he said. “I have all the confidence in the world when I’m pitching at my best.
“I’m one of the best pitchers in the league. Just continuing to hammer out those details and continue to be great, and consistency is a big part of it.”
Martin is 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA in three career starts against the Astros. He allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts over five innings but did not factor into the decision of a 9-5 loss to Houston on July 24.
White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery is off to a torrid start in the series in Houston. He is 4-for-7 with two doubles, a home run, three runs, three walks and three RBIs in the first two games of the series. His two-run double in the fifth inning on Tuesday capped a three-run frame.
The White Sox (73-65) can use the boost from a revived Martin and a confident Montgomery as they enter the stretch run with a three-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central division.
The Astros (70-69) have a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the AL West. To bolster their roster, the Astros added right-hander Ronel Blanco and center fielder Jake Meyers when rosters expanded on Tuesday before losing 5-1 in the second game of the set. The players had been assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land.
The Astros have struggled with outfield production all season, and Meyers provides another option for manager Joe Espada.
“Jake obviously can give us some depth in the outfield,” Espada said. “Right-handed hitter. Can come in and give us an extra base-stealer, baserunner. Provide some defense in the outfield.
“But again, this could change in the next couple of days depending on how we cover some of these games and our needs as we move forward.”
Right-hander Hayden Wesneski (4-1, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Astros on Wednesday. He earned a 5-1 win over the New York Yankees last Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings.
Wesneski has a 10.80 ERA across two career relief appearances against the White Sox. Wesneski allowed two runs on two hits and one walk with one strikeout over 1 2/3 innings in consecutive appearances against the White Sox while pitching for the Cubs in 2024.
– Field Level Media
