White Sox's Kendall Graveman: No set closer to begin season
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said that the club will not have a set closer until Graveman's teammate Liam Hendriks (illness) returns. "Absolutely not. That's not how we are going to run it."
Hendriks is currently battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and he doesn't have a timeline for a return at this point. Graveman has closer experience, but it appears that the White Sox are going to go closer-by-committee until Hendriks is able to return. Other options for saves include Joe Kelly, Garrett Crochet, Aaron Bummer and Jake Diekman; among others.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Open to any bullpen role
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Graveman said Thursday that he's open to filling any bullpen role for the White Sox this season, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
"To rack up saves or holds, it doesn't matter to me," Graveman said. "I just want to get this team to the playoffs." The 32-year-old looks to be the frontrunner for the closer role on the South Side of Chicago with Liam Hendriks out indefinitely following a January diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Picks up sixth save
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Graveman earned the save Sunday against Detroit, allowing a run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning in a 5-3 win.
Liam Hendriks converted saves on Friday and Saturday, so Graveman was given the opportunity to close Sunday. Harold Castro launched a solo homer with one out, but Graveman was able to get the final two outs and preserve the victory for Chicago. It was his first save since July 2. The 31-year-old has been a bit shaky since the All-Star break, allowing five runs in nine innings while walking six batters.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Picks up third win
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Graveman (3-1) struck out one without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win Sunday against the Tigers.
Graveman entered in the eighth inning of a tied game and set down the Tigers lineup in order. He served as the team's primary closer with Liam Hendriks sidelined but has since returned to a setup role. Graveman has allowed an earned run in two of his last four appearances, yet still owns a 2.39 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB across 37.2 innings.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Notches another save
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Graveman saved Saturday's 5-3 win against the Giants, allowing one run on three hits in the ninth inning. He failed to record a strikeout.
After tossing 12 pitches while closing out Friday's win, Graveman struggled Saturday but still delivered the save as he was spotted a three-run lead. The 31-year-old had thrown seven outings of one inning apiece without surrendering an earned run since Liam Hendriks (forearm) went down, though he's failed to register a strikeout in each of his last two appearances. With Hendriks scheduled to return Monday, this was probably Graveman's last game in the closer role.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Closes out Friday's win
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Graveman pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 1-0 win over the Giants.
Graveman had no trouble in the ninth inning of this low-scoring contest, picking up his second save since Liam Hendriks (forearm) landed on the IL. Graveman hasn't allowed an earned run in his last seven innings, though he has yielded three unearned runs. The 31-year-old has a 2.14 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB across 33.2 innings. He's added four saves, 13 holds and four blown saves, and he should continue to be the main option for saves in Hendriks' absence.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Picks up third save
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Graveman earned the save in Sunday's win over Baltimore, striking out two and allowing two unearned runs on a hit and a walk in the ninth inning.
Jose Abreu made errors on consecutive plays to begin the ninth inning for Graveman. The 31-year-old then allowed a four-pitch walk and an RBI single as Baltimore made it a 4-2 game with no outs and the bases loaded. With things looking grave, he managed to strike out two of the final three batters he faced and get another out with a sacrifice fly. It was his first save since May 10. Since Liam Hendriks (forearm) went on the injured list on June 14, the White Sox have had only one other save opportunity, and Joe Kelly closed that ballgame.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Used in eighth inning
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Graveman allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless eighth inning to earn his 13th hold of the season Monday against the Blue Jays.
Manager Tony La Russa indicated that Graveman would be the preferred closer while Liam Hendriks (forearm) was sidelined. However, Graveman instead entered the game in the eighth inning to face the middle of the Toronto lineup. He allowed only a single and has surrendered only one earned run across seven June appearances. Joe Kelly earned the save Monday, though it's possible that Graveman will still see save opportunities in the immediate future.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Possible waiver wire pickups
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All-everything closer Liam Hendriks just went on the IL with forearm strain, which means there are saves to be had in the White Sox bullpen. Kendall Graveman would be the most logical choice to inherit them. He spent some time last year closing for the Mariners and has spent his time this year setting up for Hendriks. Of course, he's been a bit shaky, his ground-ball approach resulting in more hits than a year ago. It's also not clear that Hendriks will be sidelined for long, with the White Sox setting an initial timetable of three weeks. That's an optimistic outlook, given the nature of the injury, so Graveman is certainly worth picking up. But you'll need to temper your expectations for him.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: First chance to close
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White Sox manager Tony La Russa suggested that Graveman will get the opportunity to serve as the team's closer if a save situation arises in Wednesday's game against the Tigers, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
After All-Star closer Liam Hendriks (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Graveman went unused in the White Sox's 5-1 win, but he might not have been available after pitching three of the past four days. The White Sox didn't have a save situation materialize anyway Tuesday, but Graveman will be good to go Wednesday and should be ready to close if needed. Joe Kelly (hamstring) returned from the IL on Tuesday and struck out two over a scoreless frame and could also factor into the closer conversation while Hendriks is sidelined, but the White Sox will stay away from using Kelly on back-to-back days initially.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Potential Hendriks replacement
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Graveman could be in line for work in the ninth inning with Liam Hendriks (forearm strain) out indefinitely.
The injury to Hendriks is one that could sideline him for weeks or months, so it's unclear how long the closer role will be up for grabs, but Graveman seems like the best bet to get save opportunities in the interim. He saved 10 games in 2021 and has two saves this year to go along with a 2.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB in 28.2 innings.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Rejoins active roster
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Graveman (not injury related) was reinstated from the restricted list Friday.
Graveman was unavailable for the White Sox's three-game series in Toronto since he's unvaccinated against COVID-19, but he'll rejoin the bullpen ahead of the team's weekend series in Tampa Bay. Over his last five appearances, he's allowed a run on four hits and two walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Absent for Toronto series
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Graveman was placed on the restricted list Monday.
The move comes on the eve of a three-game series in Toronto, indicating that Graveman made himself ineligible to cross the Canadian border by declining to vaccinate himself against COVID-19. He'll presumably return to the roster Friday when the team heads to Tampa Bay.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Tallies ninth hold
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Graveman allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth inning to record a hold Thursday against the Royals.
Graveman was tasked with protecting a three-run lead. He allowed a leadoff single but induced a groundout and double play to avoid any danger. It was a bounceback effort for Graveman, as he allowed three earned runs on four hits in his previous outing. For the season, Graveman owns a 2.79 ERA with an 18:5 K:BB and nine holds across 19.1 frames.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Coughs up three runs
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Graveman allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out one across one inning Monday against the Royals.
Graveman entered the game with a three-run lead in the eighth inning, though he coughed up the advantage by allowing three singles and a double. He entered the contest having allowed only one earned run across his last 10 frames, and he posted four holds and two saves in that span. Despite his poor outing, Graveman should continue to occupy the top setup role in the White Sox bullpen.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Picks up second save
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Graveman allowed one hit and walked one across a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Tuesday against the Guardians.
Graveman entered the game with a three-run lead and retired the first two batters he faced. He made things interesting by allowing two hitters to reach base, but he ultimately recorded his second save without much trouble. Graveman has had a strong start to the season by maintaining a 1.76 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with a 15:5 K:BB across 15.1 frames, though he only worked the ninth inning because Liam Hendriks had appeared in three out of the last four games.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Tallies fifth hold
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Graveman threw a scoreless eighth inning while allowing one hit and striking out one Monday against the Angels.
Graveman entered in the eighth inning with a 3-0 lead. After allowing a leadoff single, he made quick work of the next three batters he faced to earn his fifth hold of the season. Graveman has held opposing teams scoreless in nine of his 11 appearances this season, and he also has an impressive 14:4 K:BB across 12.1 innings. Liam Hendriks appears to have rebounded from some early season struggles and a back injury, though Graveman would likely be next in line for save opportunities.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Picks up first save
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Graveman did not allow a baserunner and struck out four across two innings to earn the save Wednesday against the Royals.
Graveman has regularly pitched in high-leverage situations this season, though he earned a save thanks to the absence of Liam Hendriks (back). He was dominant with the opportunity, as he needed only 20 pitches to retire six batters. It appears as if Hendriks will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list, though if his health worsens it appears that Graveman will be in line for save opportunities.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Takes loss against Twins
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Graveman (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out one across 1.1 innings to take the loss Friday against the Twins.
Graveman entered the game in the eighth inning with a 1-0 lead. He retired the first two batters in order before surrendering a ground-rule double to Ryan Jeffers and a walk to Luis Arraez. Both runners came around to score on an error by Jose Abreu, which ultimately saddled Graveman with the loss. After holding opponents scoreless across his first 5.2 innings of the season, Graveman has now surrendered four runs (two earned) across his last two appearances.
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White Sox's Kendall Graveman: Strong start to season
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Graveman allowed one hit and struck out one across a scoreless eighth inning Tuesday against the Mariners.
Graveman has already made three appearances this season, and he's made a strong impression with his new club. He has yet to allow a run, while also surrendering only two hits across 3.2 frames. Despite some early-season struggles from Liam Hendriks, Graveman doesn't' project for many save chances, but he has collected two holds and should also maintain strong ratios while throwing a high volume of innings.
