Keuchel takes 'another good step' in camp start

CHICAGO -- White Sox southpaw Dallas Keuchel called his performance “another good step” during Friday’s intrasquad game at Guaranteed Rate Field, where Keuchel threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in his first Summer Camp start.

“I definitely could have gone a little bit more,” Keuchel said. “Precautionary is the best measure right now instead of trying to blow it out. If I can get to five innings by my last Spring Training 2.0 start, then I’m right on schedule with a normal Spring Training. If I can get to five in however many pitches, I know I can go six innings or seven the first start.

“Like I mentioned five days ago, I firmly believe playoff-mode baseball is going to be managed from Day 1. I’m not necessarily looking to throw a complete game each outing, but the quality of innings is where it’s going to be.”

White Sox bench coach Joe McEwing, who is filling in for manager Rick Renteria during his absence, admitted that Keuchel could have gone another inning. But they are progressing gradually.

“It was great to see him out there. A lot of positives. A lot of groundballs,” McEwing said. “He felt great. But just gradually getting to where we need him to be.”

Thinking of Renteria

McEwing said thoughts and prayers are with Renteria and his family, with Renteria having returned to California for a family funeral. He will rejoin the team as soon as possible after he clears all the necessary protocol upon his return.

“We care so much about him,” McEwing said. “We said, ‘Take your time. Do what you need to do to take care of your family and then we are welcoming you back with open arms as soon as you can.'"

Third to first

• Tim Anderson homered to center and José Abreu went the opposite way to right-center during intrasquad action Friday. These long balls followed Edwin Encarnación’s blast in Thursday’s first intrasquad action. Reliever Jimmy Cordero threw two scoreless innings as the starter for the White Sox away team opposite Keuchel.

“Jimmy has plus-plus stuff,” McEwing said. “The biggest thing with Jimmy is controlling the strike zone.”

• The FANtastic Faces, representing cardboard cutouts of fans’ likenesses that will be displayed at Guaranteed Rate Field during the team’s opening homestand, have sold out, the team announced Friday. With more than 1,500 FANtastic Faces set to fill ballpark seats for the opening three-game series against Minnesota beginning Friday, July 24, the initiative raised more than $55,000 in net proceeds for Chicago White Sox Charities (CWSC).

“It’s a fun way to look at it, for sure,” said Keuchel of the FANtastic Faces. “You’ve got some excitement, a lot more excitement than probably the past four or five years. And it’s a way to get fans involved in the game, true lovers of baseball.

“I’m not really sure how much they’re charging. But I would be willing to put up some money for some fans who want to get their heads in there, because I know they want to be there.

They said it

“Another good day. Another Sox win.” -- McEwing, at the start of his Zoom call Friday after the intrasquad game.

“I’ll put it this way: If the season would start tomorrow I would be ready for the season to start. Even though I’m not 100%, or my arm is not 100%, my body is.” -- closer Alex Colomé after throwing in Friday’s intrasquad, through interpreter Billy Russo.

“Like I mentioned before, Mac [James McCann] and Yas [Yasmani Grandal] are the two best backstops collectively in the game. We’re in great hands. We can talk all day about those two guys. It’s a bonus having those two guys behind me.” -- Keuchel on his catchers.