Chicago Sports

The Chicago White Sox lost two of the three games over the weekend. The team needed a lift and got the opposite, losing to a sub.500 Texas Rangers team. However, the losses aren’t what stood out per se. Instead, the White Sox once again looked like a team that was checked out or running on fumes.

The loss in extras on Sunday only put the fans out of their misery, the misery of an awful weekend. The White Sox are now 27-31. They trail the Minnesota Twins by six games for the divisional lead and the Cleveland Guardians, who to their credit have overachieved this year, by three games.

Moreover, the weekend went from bad to worse. Starting with the starting pitcher who has been the team’s best this year.

Kopech goes down to injury

Michael Kopech has been the pleasant surprise of the season. A pitcher the fans have anticipated for years is finally making an impact at a major league level. Kopech has found his fastball, making it arguably the best pitch in baseball this season, and has effectively mixed in his other pitches, allowing him to carry an otherwise struggling White Sox team. Unfortunately, the issues that have prevented him from impacting the team, once again, got him.

In the first inning, Kopech felt discomfort in his right knee and left the game. After the game, reports varied about the severity of the injury, with the pitcher feeling a pop in his knee. While Kopech could return for his next start, any injury involving the knee of a pitcher can’t be taken lightly. After all, those types of issues, especially worsened could be career-altering.

The best that fans could hope is that Kopech was cautiously removed from the game. The 26-year-old starter than can and will return for his next start. However, in an already brutal weekend, this just made matter worse. One of the few things that were going right for the White Sox was their pitching, particularly starting pitching and now, it could be without its found gem.

La Russa’s incompetence

The weekend was a spillover from Thursday’s loss and the aftermath of it all. Since being hired, there have been questions about whether manager Tony La Russa was right for the team. Could La Russa, lead this team to a World Series, something this roster is capable of reaching. Now, the question isn’t about whether he should be the manager at the end of the season, but rather if he should be the manager by the end of the week.

La Russa has always been an old-school, play it by the feel of the game type of manager. The idea of feeling out the game in an otherwise analytical world has been questioned, even last year. However, the White Sox kept winning, despite the manager behind the bench. A manager doesn’t have much effect on the team’s success but the few things that can be controlled should be done right. Against the Dodgers, fans saw what might have been the worst decision of La Russa’s tenure with the team.

With two strikes, La Russa called for an intentional walk to put two runners on base, a move that sent shockwaves throughout the baseball universe. Naturally, the next batter hit a three-run home run, essentially putting a dagger into the game, and possibly the season. The decision was bad enough but the response only made matters worse. Good managers (and star players) own up to their mistakes and most importantly take the heat in the postgame when the team losses. La Russa instead did this.

The sad part is that these postgame pressers are nothing new. It only irritates the fans more when they see La Russa push aside blame, throw other players and coaches under the bus, point to the media or stats, or even people who didn’t manage the game as long as him as scapegoats, act aloof to something that happened in the game, and lastly double down on mistakes that everyone (including himself) know he did. The weekend just saw the frustration boil over as the home crowd turned on the skipper.

Should the White Sox fire La Russa?

Generally, followers of the game of baseball shouldn’t be advocates of firing managers. There wasn’t a rejoice over Joe Girardi’s firing or Joe Maddon’s firing, both of which happened this week.

It’s hard to become a manager and remain one, especially in the cutthroat environment that is the MLB. However, fans are understandably frustrated at a manager who seems to only hurt his team. This was supposed to be a fun year for the White Sox. A year where the team not only looked like the best in the division but one of the best in baseball, shaping up to become one of the World Series rosters. Instead, the team looked checked out, drained, and at times, treading water just to play .500 ball.

It honestly should anger the ownership, especially when the fans at your park have little satisfaction from the team, starting with the manager. If I were general manager Rick Hahn (and I’m not) I would just let Ethan Katz or one of the bench coaches clean up the mess. There’s only that much worse they can do to a team than La Russa has already done to this one.

Make sure to check out our WHITE SOX forum for the latest on the team.

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Catcher Yasmani Grandal’s left hamstring has improved to the point where he will remain off the injured list — for now.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa said Grandal was checked thoroughly before the game Sunday against the Rangers.

”He’s feeling good,” La Russa said.

Grandal, who felt discomfort while running to first base in the third inning Saturday, will undergo a series of tests in the next few days, La Russa said.

In the meantime, the Sox purchased the contract of catcher Seby Zavala from Triple-A Charlotte. Zavala entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and grounded to second.

Unfortunately for the Sox’ well-worked bullpen, left-hander Aaron Bummer was put on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Wednesday, because of a left lat strain.

Bummer, who has a 3.06 ERA in 20 appearances, was unavailable for the first two games of the series against the Rangers, in which the Sox used Reynaldo Lopez as an opener for two innings and Davis Martin for five innings Friday, then stretched out Jimmy Lambert for 2? innings Saturday.

La Russa said the medical staff thinks Bummer will be ready to return when he’s eligible June 24. Because of the need for a fresh arm, Martin was optioned to Charlotte and left-hander Tanner Banks was recalled from there. Banks pitched two scoreless innings Sunday.

To make room for Zavala on the 40-man roster, the Sox designated catcher Yermin Mercedes for assignment. Mercedes was batting .230 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 25 games at Charlotte.

Kelly’s climb

Reliever Joe Kelly reported his arm and legs felt good after throwing about 20 pitches in a simulated game. Kelly, who hasn’t pitched since injuring his left hamstring May 25, is expected to start a rehab assignment Tuesday with shortstop Tim Anderson at Charlotte.

”It’s the best I’ve probably thrown at 10:30 in the morning, velocity-wise,” Kelly said. ”But everything else is good. Obviously, I was not as crisp as I wanted it to be, but it went great healthwise.”

A walk on the wild side

Control problems have hindered the progress of Single-A Kannapolis pitcher Andrew Dalquist, a third-round pick in 2019 who has walked 31 in 45 2/3 innings and has a 5.72 ERA.

”You see one to two innings that are very smooth and then a hiccup where he loses his delivery and tries to do too much,” assistant general manager Chris Getz said. ”It’s a matter of staying in control, staying in the moment, not getting ahead of himself and continuing to compete.

”He has a tendency to internalize. A lot of players do, even at the major-league level. But if you want to be consistent — and that consistency is so important to be a starting pitcher — you’ve got to find it, whether it’s cues [or] a reset button to go out there and perform and give us more innings.”

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The latest round of frustration for the White Sox started with right-hander Michael Kopech spiking a baseball after only 13 pitches Sunday before walking off the field. It ended with Luis Robert standing helplessly at third base after committing the final out on a baserunning blunder.

Those were two of several setbacks the Sox must overcome after an 8-6 loss to the Rangers in 12 innings that created more shuffling as they embark on a six-game trip to Detroit and Houston.

Fortunately for the Sox, the pop Kopech felt in his right ankle after delivering a pitch with two outs in the first might need only two extra days of rest before he possibly can start the series finale against the Astros.

In the meantime, the Sox will look for coverage after right-hander Johnny Cueto — their original starter Monday — pitched five innings of relief a day after throwing 45 pitches in preparation for his start.

Right-handers Lance Lynn and Dylan Cease now will start the first two games against the Tigers. Lynn originally was scheduled to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday to make his season debut after having surgery on his right knee in April.

The Sox will need a starter for Wednesday, but that issue isn’t as urgent as others.

The combined relief efforts of Reynaldo Lopez, Cueto, Tanner Banks and Kendall Graveman got the Sox to the 10th inning in a 3-3 tie. But closer Liam Hendriks wasn’t available after throwing 15 pitches Friday, and the Rangers capitalized on a three-run home run by Ezequiel Duran in the 11th and a two-run single by Jonah Heim in the 12th.

”That’s a game we have to win,” manager Tony La Russa said. ”We have to find a way to win that thing.”

Any chance of a comeback in the 12th ended when Robert advanced from second to third on a deep fly to left by Jake Burger but slid past the bag and was tagged for the final out of the game. Burger, not Robert, represented the tying run.

”You know I like aggressiveness, but that wasn’t a good play,” said La Russa, who later added: ”We like his aggressiveness, and there’s a place for it. But that’s one place where you just read the scoreboard. It always should dictate how much you want to push, when you should push. He’s a quick learner. He won’t do it again.”

The Sox (27-31) remained six games behind the Twins in the American League Central after concluding a 2-4 homestand.

Cueto provided lengthy relief despite spending the morning in a whirlpool and admittedly not stretching before volunteering to pitch after Kopech left the game.

”I’m a little bit sore, but normal sore,” said Cueto, who knew the bullpen already was taxed.

Kopech said his ankle was sore but was informed there were no structural issues. The Sox were looking for length from Kopech, who threw six innings of one-hit ball against the Dodgers in his last start Tuesday, but were forced to scramble after he couldn’t put any pressure on his foot before attempting a warmup pitch.

”I was frustrated,” Kopech said. ”I thought it was worse than what it was, but I’m grateful for the news.”

The Sox are 0-5-3 in their last eight series at Guaranteed Rate Field after winning their first two home series this season.

The initial fears of Kopech’s injury seized the concerns of Sox fans more than the previous day, when chants of ”Fire Tony” echoed for 20 seconds.

”It’s the same difference,” La Russa said before the game. ”I’m glad the fans are here, and whatever their honest feeling is, have at it. I’ve managed a long time.

”There have been times where people have not been pleased with the job that I do. Just do your best.”

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NEW YORK – Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” blared over the Yankee Stadium loudspeakers as Cubs reliever Daniel Norris walked off the field and Alec Mills jogged in from the bullpen.

Another one indeed. Mills was the Cubs’ third pitcher in as many innings.

The Cubs’ 18-4 loss on Sunday was the Cubs’ second blowout defeat at the hands of the Yankees in a row. How much does a June loss to the best team in MLB mean? A lot if it depletes the bullpen during a stretch of 17 games without an off day.

On Sunday, Cubs relievers combined to throw 7 1/3 innings. It was the second time this series that they were responsible for more than seven frames in a game.

The Cubs’ rotation is also short-handed, with right-hander Marcus Stroman (shoulder inflammation) and lefties Wade Miley (shoulder strain) and Drew Smyly (right oblique strain) all on the 15-day IL, making bullpen depth all the more important entering this week.

On Sunday, Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson didn’t make it out of the first inning, walking three batters and giving up a pair of two-run doubles before lefty Daniel Norris came in to face the top of the order with two outs.

Thompson was charged with three earned runs. Two unearned runs scored after four Cubs players converged under a popup in front of the mound, and the ball glanced off of third baseman Patrick Wisdom’s glove, allowing Marwin Gonz?lez to reach on the error.

Thompson had been dominant to start the season, posting a 1.58 ERA in his first eight relief appearances and three starts. The Cubs have moved him out of that swingman role by necessity. In his last three starts, Thompson has allowed 13 earned runs in nine innings, each start shorter than the last.

Just two days prior to Thompson’s short start Sunday, the Cubs bullpen did the heavy lifting in a 13-inning loss. Miley came off the 15-day IL to start, but three innings in, his shoulder started bothering him again. That left over nine innings for the bullpen to fill, and the Cubs placed Miley back on the IL the next day.

Norris had thrown an inning in that game, and on Sunday the Cubs called on him to throw two more. He walked three and gave up two homers in two innings.

Cubs right-hander Alec Mills’ 3 1/3 innings of two-run ball saved the Cubs from reaching even deeper into the bullpen. But the outing brought Mills’ innings total for the series up to four innings. If he had been an option to start Wednesday, when the Cubs have an opening in the rotation, he likely isn’t after that weekend workload.

Cubs reliever Sean Newcomb (five runs in one inning) and first baseman Frank Schwindel (one run in one inning) took the mound for the Cubs’ last two defensive frames.

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You almost couldn’t have scripted it: Bobby Cox, Joe Torre and Tony La Russa leaving the managerial grind together in 2010 and going into the Hall of Fame together in 2014. Three greats — no doubt about it, right?

Before you agitated White Sox fans answer that question, please remember that La Russa ranks second all-time in regular-season wins (Cox is fourth, Torre fifth) and that these very men are the top three skippers (Torre first, followed by La Russa and Cox) in postseason victories.

Such legends — and yet one can’t help but wonder what nasty things baseball fans would be saying about Cox and Torre had they, too, made surprising comebacks to the dugout heading into the 2021 season. Three wise men? More like three stooges.

These are hard times for managers everywhere. Big-timers Joe Maddon and Joe Giradri got kicked to the curb by their teams last week. Dave Martinez, who led the Nationals to their first World Series crown in 2019, is on the hot seat. So, too, it seems, are the Mariners’ Scott Servais (2021 runner-up for American League manager of the year) and the Marlins’ Don Mattingly (2020 National League manager of the year), among others.

But La Russa is the recipient of more fan resentment than any of them, in part because of his personality, in part because of his cozy friendship with Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and in part — the biggest part — because of his questionable decisions and outright mistakes since coming back. This is not going to get better unless the Sox get much better, and fast.

Here’s what’s happening:

MON 13

Padres at Cubs (7:05 p.m., Marquee)

Old pal Yu Darvish takes the hill for the team with the best road record in the National League. In case that needs clarifying, no, it’s not the Cubs.

Celtics at Warriors, Game 5 (8 p.m., Ch. 7)

The only thing predictable about this series is that Golden State provocateur Draymond Green will stir the pot on his podcast after each game. Aren’t we all thankful podcasts didn’t exist when Dennis Rodman was playing for the Bulls?

TUE 14

White Sox at Tigers (6:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Lance Lynn makes his long-awaited season debut, and are you thinking what we’re thinking? Now here’s a guy who’d never let anybody make him issue an intentional walk on a 1-2 count.

USMNT at El Salvador (9 p.m., FS1, Univision)

The Americans may have hit on something last week with striker Jesus Ferreira’s four-goal outburst against Grenada. Not to tell coach Gregg Berhalter how to do his job, but we’d simply have somebody do that again.

WED 15

Lightning at Avalanche, Game 1 (7 p.m., Ch. 7)

We’re beginning to suspect the Bolts — who’ve won 11 postseason series in a row and are trying to pull off the NHL’s first three-peat since the early 1980s — are actually pretty good.

THU 16

Warriors at Celtics, Game 6 (8 p.m., Ch. 7)

One of these teams is playing for a title tonight, and keep this in mind: Only four of the last 27 NBA Finals have gone seven games.

FRI 17

Braves at Cubs (1:20 p.m., Marquee)

Baseball’s defending champs were below .500 entering June, but a double-digit winning streak re-established them as a force to be reckoned with. Bonus: Nobody in Atlanta is speculating about a William Contreras trade.

Dream at Sky (7 p.m., Marquee)

We know Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft — can score with ease, but can she turn a double play with Shawon Dunston?

SAT 18

White Sox at Astros (3:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Last time these teams hooked up for a series, Kendall Graveman plunked Jose Abreu, La Russa and Baker got into it (again), the Astros easily outclassed the Sox and, well, so much for the 2021 season. But just look how fun the Sox’ fresh start in 2022 has been!

D.C. United at Fire (7 p.m., UniMas, TUDN)

D.C. and Chicago are the lowest-scoring couple of teams in the Eastern Conference, but don’t let that fool you; they’re also the worst couple of teams in the Eastern Conference.

Lightning at Avalanche, Game 2 (7 p.m., Ch. 7)

If ever there were a team that can stand up to the champs, it’s this one. Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Cole Makar — the Avs take a back seat to no one.

SUN 19

U.S. Open, final round (11 a.m., Ch. 5)

Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy … Phil Mickelson? Imagine the awkward tension if Mickelson — the face of the new, controversial, Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour — makes a run at his long-sought first Open title.

Sky at Fever (2 p.m., Ch. 26)

One of these years, the Fever will be good again. And by “good” we mean “for once, not a doormat.”

White Sox at Astros (6:08 p.m., ESPN)

No matter what happens, it’s a good thing the Sox are on the road for this national telecast. Wait, they don’t know the “Fire Tony!” chant in Houston, do they?

Celtics at Warriors, Game 7, if necessary (8 p.m., Ch. 7)

Yes, please?

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The White Sox suffered another hit Sunday as Michael Kopech left after throwing 12 pitches in the first inning.

Kopech, who has a 1.94 ERA and had limited opponents to a .140 batting average in 14 starts since the start of 2021, looked uncomfortable after throwing a 3-1 pitch to Adolis Garcia of the Rangers and walked behind the mound.

After receiving medical attention, Kopech attempted to throw a warmup pitch but winced and stopped before going into his full windup.

Kopech, in obvious pain, appeared to have trouble putting weight on his left leg and walked off the mound and spiked the ball before leaving.

On four occasions this season, Kopech has pitched at least five innings and allowed only one hit.

Reynaldo Lopez, who threw two innings as an opener Friday, took over for Kopech and finished the at-bat with a strikeout.

Meanwhile, Yasmani Grandal’s left hamstring tightness might not be severe enough to place him on the 10-day injured list.

Manager Tony La Russa said Grandal was checked thoroughly before Sunday’s game, and “he’s feeling good.”

Grandal, who felt discomfort running to first base in the third inning of Saturday’s loss to the Rangers, is expected to undergo a series of tests in the next few days.

Seby Zavala was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to provide insurance. Zavala, 28, was batting .282 with eight home runs at Charlotte.

Unfortunately for the Sox’s well-worked bullpen, left-hander Aaron Bummer was placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Wednesday, because of a left lat strain.

Bummer, who has a 3.06 ERA in 20 appearances, was unavailable for at least the first two games of the Rangers’ series, in which the Sox used Lopez as an opener for two innings and Davis Martin for five innings on Friday and stretched Jimmy Lambert for 2 2/3 innings Saturday.

La Russa said the medical staff believes Bummer will be ready to return when he’s eligible June 24.

Because of the need for a fresh arm, Davis was optioned to Charlotte and left-hander Tanner Banks was recalled. Banks, 30, posted a 4.57 ERA in 14 appearances with the Sox earlier this year.

To make room for Zavala on the 40-man roster, designated hitter/catcher Yermin Mercedes was finally designated for assignment. Mercedes batted .230 with four home runs and 13 RBI in 25 games at Charlotte.

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NEW YORK – Day after day of pregame hitting, hoping for a good enough reaction for Seiya Suzuki to return from the 10-day injured list, returned the same result. His sprained left ring finger continued to swell.

So, on Saturday, in a meeting in New York that included president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, the club decided a break from hitting was the best move going forward. Manager David Ross announced on Sunday that the Cubs planned to rest Suzuki for about five days, “per doctor’s orders,” before having him ramp back up.

Suzuki has been sidelined since hurting his finger on a base in Cincinnati on May 26 while stealing second.

“He really wants to play, and we tried to take that in consideration, and he’s tried to work out, push it a little bit, and it just still is lingering a little bit,” Ross said. “He’s probably 85, 90 percent. And I think we all came to conclude it’s just not smart to have a setback with what we’re trying to do.”

Last week, Ross was optimistic that Suzuki might be able to play against the Yankees. But he said Sunday that Suzuki still had “a pretty good amount of swelling” in his finger. Suzuki saw another doctor in New York, one of multiple opinions the Cubs have sought.

“I do understand it’s quite frustrating when it’s a finger issue,” Hoyer said. “You feel like, it’s just a finger. But it matters.”

The Cubs don’t have a definitive timetable for Suzuki’s return. When asked if he’d need to go on a rehab assignment, Ross was noncommittal.

“We’ve got some stuff that we’ll be able to do to keep him sharp,” he added. “We’ll talk through that with him when he feels like he’s 100 percent.”

Newcomb activated

The Cubs activated reliever Sean Newcomb off the 15-day IL (left ankle sprain) on Sunday, reinforcing the bullpen. In a corresponding move, they optioned right-hander Michael Rucker to Triple-A.

Rucker threw three innings of relief in the Cubs’ 8-0 blowout loss Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits and recording three strikeouts.

Madrigal day-to-day

Cubs second baseman Nick Madrigal remains day-to-day with groin tightness, after leaving the Cubs’ extra-innings loss Friday in the 12th inning. Ross said he’s be available off the bench Sunday.

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High school hitters ripped the ball all over Duly Health and Care Field during the Illinois High School Association state finals this weekend in Joliet.

There were lasers down the line and huge blasts to center field. But there was just one home run during the eight games and it came in Edwardsville’s thrilling 4-3 win against Mundelein in the Class 4A championship game.

Tiger senior Adam Powell, a 6-0, 200-pound lefty, hit a long fly ball to the opposite field in the fifth inning. The game was scoreless and there was one runner on base.

“Off the bat it felt good,” Powell said. “I didn’t think it was anywhere close to going out. Maybe as a foul ball. But it just kept going until I got to second base and I really didn’t even know it was gone. I just couldn’t see it anymore.”

Powell’s home run certainly wasn’t the best hit ball of the weekend, but it was a monumental blow, giving Edwardsville a 2-0 lead and what seemed like a clear path to the title.

“I was not expecting that to go out,” Edwardsville starting pitcher Gannon Burns said. “You don’t think a lefty is going to hit it 350 feet like that. It lit a fire under us and got us going.”

But Mundelein rose from the dead. The Mustangs rallied for three runs and took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. It looked like they had finally rattled Burns.

Neither team scored in the sixth as Mundelein clung to a 3-2 lead.

Edwardsville (34-4) scored two in the top of the seventh to take the lead back and Burns trotted out to the mound to try and secure the state championship with a complete game.

“He’s a dude,” Powell said. “He’s one of those guys where there were a couple spots where he looked a little shaky but I had full confidence he was going to get the job done for us.”

Burns did it. He struck out Mundelein’s leadoff hitter. Connor Weik drew a walk for the Mustangs but Burns got two ground outs to give Edwardsville its fourth state title.

Burns threw all seven innings, allowing one earned run on five hits. He walked three and struck out five.

The Tigers also won the state title in 2019, 1998, and 1990. They are one of the state’s premier programs, with 16 appearances in the state finals.

“It’s the coaches and the preparation that we put in,” Burns said. “It gives us depth that most other schools don’t have.”

Caden Morton, Mundelein’s starting pitcher, had spent the season as a reliever and was thrown into emergency duty in the state title game.

He lived up to the moment, holding Edwardsville’s explosive offense to just three hits and two runs in his five innings. It was just his second start of the season and his longest outing.

“Caden has worked his butt off to get where he is,” Mustangs coach Randy Lerner said. “Stepping in to start like that was phenomenal.”

Tommy Stricklin had two hits for Mundelein (29-6) and Danny Connelly’s two-run double in the fifth inning put the Mustangs ahead late and had their energetic fans nearly tasting a state title.

“I’m so proud of the fight we’ve had all year,” Lerner said. “This was an unbelievable high school baseball game. Both teams didn’t have their top pitchers and guys battled. That’s the way a championship game should be.”

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NEW YORK – Cubs vice president of player development Jared Banner had plenty of sit downs with prospects this spring. But his meeting with right-hander Matt Swarmer stood out.

“It might have been my longest sit down in the spring,” Banner told the Sun-Times. “We went over everything. He came over to my side of the desk. We looked at his profile and some of his charts and things of that nature. And that just tells me he was really inquisitive about what he needed to do to get better to get to the big leagues.”

Swarmer made it to the big-leagues a little over a week ago. And on Saturday, he hit the first bump in the road of his major-league career, in a 8-0 loss to the Yankees. Swarmer allowed six solo home runs in five innings, becoming the first Cubs starter to give up that many homers in a game in the modern era.

The last Cubs pitcher to give up six home runs was Tom Lee, in 1884, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

“I’ve just got to do a better job executing,” Swarmer said after the game, “and hopefully better things happen next start.”

It was Swarmer’s third major-league start, and his first two were quality starts. In each, he limited his opponent to one earned run through six innings.

“I’ve definitely seen him better,” Ross said Saturday. “Solo shots, I guess that’s better than walks. Those guys have got some powerful swings, and some big strong guys. They have the potential to put up some numbers with one swing of the bat, and they did that today.”

Swarmer, however, has perspective from his minor-league trials as he works past his first road outing in the big leagues. Yankee Stadium, against the best team in baseball (43-16), isn’t an easy place to gain that first experience.

Swarmer set another franchise record in 2019 with the Iowa Cubs, allowing 36 home runs in his 27 outings that year.

He worked on his slider grip and approach – understanding that each pitch sets up the next one. And he played in a men’s league when the pandemic wiped out the 2020 season, “facing men with no hair.”

“He’s been a guy we’ve been paying a lot of attention to,” Banner said. “He’s made some major improvements over the last year or so, especially with his slider. It’s a real weapon. It’s, a big-league weapon.”

Swarmer had so much success with that slider in his first two starts because of his ability to manipulate it, to the point that it almost behaves like multiple pitches, and how similar his fastball and slider look coming out of his hand.

“His slider is the pitch that guys don’t see and swing like a fastball,” Ross said before Saturday’s game, “and you try to slow down to recognize the slider, and it lets the fastball play.”

One game doesn’t wipe out that progress. And Swarmer won’t face Aaron Judge (2 home runs), Giancarlo Stanton (1), Gleyber Torres (1), and Jose Trevino (1) and Anthony Rizzo (1) every start.

“Definitely a good lineup, the best I’ve ever faced,” Swarmer said. “But I’ve still got to make my pitches.”

While the Cubs’ rotation has been decimated by injuries, the club is relying on pitchers like Swarmer, with the talent but not the experience, to step in.

“Just going to try to limit the damage next time when things start hitting the fan,” Swarmer said. “Just try to make them feel uncomfortable up there. They just seemed like they saw the ball really well.”

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NEW YORK — Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matt Swarmer tied a record on Saturday night, giving up six solo home runs to the New York Yankees before being pulled after five innings.

Swarmer, 28, is the second pitcher in MLB history – and first since 1932 – to allow six solo home runs in a single game. He’s the 10th pitcher ever to give up six home runs of any kind in a game and first Cub since 1884.

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit two home runs off Swarmer, including one to lead-off the game. Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, Jose Trevino and Anthony Rizzo hit the other four off Swarmer, who gave up seven hits in his outing, with six leaving the yard.

It’s the seventh time this season both Judge and Stanton have homered in the same game, most by two teammates this season.

Stanton’s fourth inning blast is tied (with himself) for the hardest hit (119.8 mph) ball this season.

Swarmer was making his third major league start after a successful debut and follow up outing. His ERA entering the night was 1.50. It’s now 4.24.

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