After abbreviated start, Crochet turns focus to making September starts

CHICAGO -- Garrett Crochet will be well-rested when he starts the homestand finale for the White Sox on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The All-Star threw just four pitches Tuesday night against the Rangers before strong rain immediately began and eventually led to the contest being suspended. That game was finished via a 3-1 Texas victory Wednesday afternoon before the White Sox suffered a 4-3 setback in the regularly scheduled affair for a sixth straight loss and 16th straight series loss.

Tuesday’s abbreviated outing marked Crochet’s 27th start, featuring a 3.64 ERA and 180 strikeouts, placing him third in the American League. The 25-year-old would like to add to those totals throughout the month of September, even with an abbreviated workload at the end of his first season as part of the rotation.

“In the conversations I’ve had with [general manager] Chris [Getz] and the rest of the staff, it’s been [about] undergoing a typical starter’s workload in terms of getting through the entire year,” said Crochet prior to Wednesday’s two games. “Pitching in September is huge, just for the mindset of having truly pitched through the whole season.

“Since the All-Star break, in terms of workload, it’s dwindled down, but at the same time, I’m still going every fifth day. And I think that going every fifth day for the duration of the entire year, it’s huge.”

Crochet was one of baseball’s most dominant starting pitchers at the 2024 All-Star break, producing six double-digit strikeout efforts and a career-high of 13 in Seattle on June 13. He has issued more than two walks in a start on just four occasions.

Innings have been limited during the season’s second half, with Crochet working four innings on four occasions, to go with three innings, 2 1/3 innings and four pitches in three other starts. But his overall debut performance as a starter already was a smashing success by the time the slowdown arrived.

“His consistent basis of coming in every day and working, I’ve seen it,” said catcher Korey Lee, who has been behind the plate for 20 Crochet starts, including Tuesday’s one minute of work. “Everyone has seen it. The organization has seen it. The world has seen it. I’m honestly blessed to be his catcher and to catch him this season. It’s super special on both of us.”

“It was tough to envision getting to this point, and undergoing the workload that I have,” Crochet said. “But as far as results, I’ve always held myself to high expectations. Everyone as a big leaguer does. So, I’m not really shocked with any of the positive results. Maybe shocked with the couple of negative ones, if anything.”

A conversation took place between Crochet and head athletic trainer James Kruk during Spring Training, at a time when very little was known about the left-hander’s season ahead. He told Kruk how 120 innings was his floor for ‘24, but thought he could get up to 150 innings, which is the pace he’s on right now.

As soon as he passed 120 innings, Crochet didn’t say anything, but was happy with the idea that his prediction was on track. He told that story with a broad smile Wednesday.

“He feels good, he wants to finish the season and not miss any starts,” said White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore of Crochet. “I’m going to plan as if he’s going every five days like he’s been doing until I hear otherwise.”

“Rightfully so, everyone was kind of doubtful I would even make it this far,” Crochet said. “So it feels really good and very rewarding for all the work that I put in with this staff. And all the work I put in with the staff I worked with in the offseason, for it to have gotten to this point and still feeling strong.”

Stronger, probably, after Tuesday’s strange start.

White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz told Crochet rain was expected at about 8:30 p.m. CT as he walked out to the field, but Crochet figured his outing would be over at that point. The rain clearly came a little earlier than expected.

“I don’t think anyone around here is a weatherman,” Crochet said. “So it is what it is.”

“It’s something new every day you see in baseball, That’s the beauty of the game,” Lee said. “I’m part of history. It’s kind of cool.”

Travis Jankowski snatched victory from the White Sox with a spectacular leaping catch over the left field wall to take a walk-off, three-run home run away from Andrew Vaughn in the ninth Wednesday night. The White Sox stranded the bases loaded when Lenyn Sosa flew out.

“Yeah, thought I hit it pretty dang well,” Vaughn said. “It was over the fence. Guy made one of the greatest catches you’ll see in a long time.”