CLEVELAND — Who knows what the White Sox starting rotation will look like in 2024.
Jesse Scholtens and Touki Toussaint would like to envision it shaping up with them in it.
There’s no way to even project who the starting five will be. As of today, Dylan Cease would be the Opening Day starter. But there’s no guarantee Cease isn’t traded in the offseason.
Michael Kopech, at 27, would seem to have a place. But with a 4.49 ERA and American-League-worst 63 walks and inconsistencies at a time when he should be firmly established, Kopech is no sure thing, either. Some believe he’s better suited for the bullpen.
The Sox do have a mutual $12-million option for 2024 that includes a $4-million buyout on Mike Clevinger, who allowed four runs (three earned) in five innings in a 4-2 loss to the Guardians on Friday. Once thought to be a one-year-and-done guy, in large part because of the off-field distraction he brought after signing as a free agent, perhaps the Sox will consider a pitcher who, per Baseball Reference wins above replacement, is the team’s third-best performer even though he missed a month with biceps inflammation.
There is the free-agent market, but the Sox have never dipped into it for big fish in the starting-pitcher pond.
And then there are right-handers Scholtens and Toussaint, who are auditioning for open spots in the rotation during August and September with Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn shipped out before the trade deadline. Scholtens, 29, was a non-roster invitee to spring training and Toussaint, 27, was claimed off waivers from the Guardians on June 20.
“Why not? They’re throwing the ball great,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “This is their time to shine. Their time to show us, ‘I’m one of the five.’ ”
Scholtens is 1-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 17 appearances including three starts and Toussaint is 1-2 with a 3.82 ERA in eight games including four starts. Jimmy Lambert, who has a starter’s four-pitch mix, could vie for a rotation spot next season. He threw two innings of scoreless relief Friday.
Scholtens pitched six innings of three-hit, one-run ball with six strikeouts and no walks in a loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. He will start Sunday against the Guardians.
“Wish we were winning more but personally it’s been great to get this experience,” said Scholtens, who pitched to a 4.27 ERA in 162 -minor-league games before making his debut this season.
“I definitely learned that, ‘Hey, you can do this,’ ’’ Scholtens said. “Spending all those years in the minor leagues there’s always that doubt.”
“Sometimes players, pitchers get evaluated and labeled unnecessarily,” Grifol said. “Those guys have a good opportunity to pitch and show us they’re major-league pitchers.”
Being effective a third time through the lineup is key for Scholtens, whose four-pitch mix includes a 93-mph four-seam fastball, slider, curve and splitter.
“Not overpowering, but changing speeds and keeping a steady mix,” Scholtens said. “I’m self-aware of the stuff I have.”
Toussaint has pitched in 67 games including 29 starts over six seasons with the Braves, Angels, Guardians and Sox. His -career ERA is 5.05.
“Every day you step out there is an audition,” Toussaint said.
Alluding to Toussaint and Scholtens, -Grifol said players often develop reputations that shouldn’t stick. He said Toussaint “looks like a guy that is durable enough to take the ball 30 times a year and give us some good innings.”
Clevinger (4-5, 3.72 ERA), who spiked a changeup for a run-scoring wild pitch in the second and served up a tiebreaking two-run homer to Andres Gimenez in the fifth, managed five innings Friday.
“Didn’t have my best stuff and two bad pitches were really costly,” Clevinger said.
Clevinger didn’t have much offensive support. The Sox, who were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, have scored six runs -during the losing streak.
