Pregame notes: Half our readership is in the stands

PITTSBURGH -- Welcome to all the attendants of the Sox Machine/Section 108 road trip to PNC Park this weekend, but also to all the normal people who read this website too. We're all closer to the end of another White Sox season that everyone involved knew would be largely miserable, than we are to its beginning.

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Despite being the pitch that White Sox internal models love more than his changeup, Jonathan Cannon's sweeper wasn't carrying as much weight for most of this season, but he hopes Friday night will see a continued upward trend from a recent adjustment.

"It's just sharper," Cannon said. "It was kind of popping out of my hand a bit and easy for the hitters to see, just laying off really good sweepers that barely missed or were just a ball off. We kind of just tinkered with it a little bit, throwing it a touch harder and get it with a little bit later movement, and have had pretty good results with it so far."

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Shane Smith has returned from the All-Star Game, wracked with unyielding guilt for hitting Eugenio Suárez in the hand for the second time this season.

"I felt terrible about it," Smith said. "Same spot too. Hands are tricky. I tried to say 'I’m sorry' to him. I talked to Logan Webb a little bit about it, I saw him later. He was like, 'It’s going to be all right. He probably doesn’t like you too much.'"

But aside from his guilt, his relief that he got James Wood to tap into a forceout before departing, his wondering aloud if he'll wind up being the last pitcher Joe Torre ever pulls from a game, Smith seemed to most value the time he spent speaking to other All-Stars. All the AL Central participants were in the same part of the locker room, so Smith reckons he talked to Kris Bubic as much as anyone else on a day that currently represents the zenith of his career.

As he tries to compose a stronger close to his season than he managed for his first half, Smith talked to more accomplished pitchers with similar usage patterns about what in-game cues they look for.

"Talked with [Garrett] Crochet a good bit just because we have commonalities,' Smith said. "Just asked him what he’s thinking. We don’t have like, the same pitch mix, but guys like him, [Tarik] Skubal, have heavy fastball usage. So I’m just trying to pick their brain about when they pivot, how they pivot, what they’re seeing from hitters. What dictates to them: do I have to go a different route here or can I kind of play to my strengths a little bit? Things that are actionable, but it’s kind of how does it apply to me?"

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Davis Martin is here in wondrous Pennsylvania with the team, despite getting nailed in the head in the second inning of his last rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday. Other than some discomfort while chewing, he claims to be fine. He did pitch into the fourth, after all, striking out five against one run allowed.

Will Venable said like Smith, Martin is on track to pitch during the next series in Tampa. For Martin, that will require not just a roster move, but a decision about where he slots in a rotation currently full with Cannon, Smith, Sean Burke, Adrian Houser and Aaron Civale. Obviously trades could create an opening or two in that group fairly soon, and Venable is holding off on announcing whether there will be a temporary six-man setup or a temporary move to the bullpen for someone.

"We haven’t solved that yet," Venable said. "The time is coming here obviously."

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Speaking of rotation slots, Noah Syndergaard is moving up to take one in Charlotte after four complex league outings.

Brooks Baldwin is also with Triple-A Charlotte to begin a rehab assignment for his lower back strain. Injured first basemen Tim Elko and Ryan Noda are still with the club on this road trip.

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Venable spent the All-Star break wondering if he pushed the gas too hard on some young players getting used to the major league grind.

"With all the ways that I reflect on trying myself to be better and do a better job, certainly managing workload is something I'm continuing to try to get better at," Venable said. "You get in situations where you just have guys in there because you're desperate for a win and want to play well and maybe that's not the best thing for us long-term."

First pitch: White Sox at Pirates

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM

Lineups: