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  "path": "/white-sox/2026/04/06/white-sox-abs-challenges-tuesday-start-cold-orioles",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-06T22:55:04.851Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>White Sox</u></a> have had a challenging go of it when it comes to MLB’s new ball/strike challenge system.</p><p>Entering play Monday, Sox catchers had issued 15 ABS challenges to umpires’ pitch calls, tied for second-most in baseball — but they’d lost nine of them, a 40% win rate that had them sitting third from the bottom of MLB.</p><p>Sox hitters had challenged just four pitch calls, tied for fewest in baseball, and gotten two of them right.</p><p>“Our guys have a pretty good idea of when a good time is to use the challenge and when not to,” general manager <b>Chris Getz</b> said ahead of the Sox’ <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2026/04/05/breaking-news-white-sox-after-sweeping-blue-jays-are-almost-mediocre\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>three-game sweep of Toronto</u></a>. “I've been pretty happy with how it's been used on our front, and I think the overall strategy, it's going to take time to develop because I do think that umpires are going to adjust as well.”</p><p>Getz didn’t hold catcher <b>Edgar Quero</b>’s <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/03/30/white-sox-abs-challenge-system\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>trigger finger for challenges</u></a> against him. Quero had lost eight of his 13 challenges, while <b>Reese McGuire</b> was 1-for-2.</p><p>“More importantly for us, and just in [Quero's] continued development, is his framing ability, getting those calls. That's something that we've really prioritized,” Getz said. “To get off course and focus more on the ABS challenging approach, I think, is not right.”</p><h3><b>Tuesday’s first pitch moved up due to cold</b></h3><p>The start of Tuesday’s originally scheduled night game against the Orioles was moved up to 2:10 p.m. due to cold weather, with a forecasted high of 37. No ticket exchanges are necessary.</p><p>“I don't think that this game is meant to be played in really, really cold weather,” manager <b>Will Venable</b> said.</p><p>Sox starter <b>Shane Smith</b> (0-2 19.29 ERA) will look to shake off his ice-cold start to the season against Orioles lefty <b>Trevor Rogers</b> (2-0, 1.38).</p><h3><b>Hot hands on the farm</b></h3><p>Over the weekend, shortstop <b>Tanner Murray</b> became the first Triple-A call-up <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2026/04/05/white-sox-rookie-tanner-murray-makes-mlb-debut-as-everson-pereira-goes-on-il\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>to make his Sox debut this season</u></a>, but fans have long been looking to the next wave of talent knocking on the door at Charlotte.</p><p>A week into the season, power lefties <b>Noah Schultz</b> (1.00 ERA in nine innings with 10 strikeouts and <b>Hagen Smith</b> (3.00 across six innings nine strikeouts) have impressed through two starts, along with right hander <b>Tanner McDougal </b>(2.00 over nine innings with 11 strikeouts).</p><p>The Knights have also gotten major production at hitter-happy Truist Field from <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/03/19/sam-antonacci-returns-to-spring-training-says-wbc-experience-was-definitely-worth-it\" target=\"_blank\" ><u>Team Italy WBC-veteran</u></a> <b>Sam Antonacci</b> (9-for-26 with two homers and eight walks) — an infielder who is learning left field on the job to hasten his path to the Sox — as well as second baseman <b>William Bergolla Jr.</b> (13-for-24 with four doubles).</p><p>All five figure to get their first first cups of big-league coffee sometime this year, but don’t hold your breath for it to happen in the first month of play..</p><p>“You don't want to get too jumpy,” Getz said. “I know it could be enticing to bring those pitchers up, but these guys are such a significant part of the future of the White Sox, and we want to handle this with care in making sure that they're ready when they’re coming.”</p><h3><b>Season’s greeting</b></h3><p>The Sox claimed left-hander <b>Doug Nikhazy </b>a week after the 26-year-old was DFA’d by Cleveland. They optioned him to Charlotte to fill out the 40-man roster.</p><p>Nikhazy posted a 4.13 ERA with 467 strikeouts in 96 minor-league games (89 starts), and he got rocked for six runs over four innings in his first two big-league appearances last year for the Guardians.</p>",
  "title": "White Sox still tuning their ABS approach after rough start under new challenge system",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-06T22:55:04.851Z"
}