White Sox's Chris Flexen: Bound for bullpen eventually
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Monday that Flexen will remain in the rotation for now but will "at some point" pitch out of the bullpen, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.
Flexen has permitted 13 runs with a 7:6 K:BB over 13.1 innings in his three starts this season. The White Sox will keep him in the rotation for the time being more out of necessity, but it sounds like he might be headed for a long relief role once Mike Clevinger is ready.
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White Sox's Chris Flexen: Roughed up in loss
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Flexen (0-3) yielded six runs on seven hits and a walk over 2.2 innings Friday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Reds.
Flexen gave up just one run through the first two frames before the Reds tagged him with five in the third inning. His day was ended after serving up back-to-back home runs to Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson. Flexen's ERA jumped to 8.78 with a lackluster 7:6 K:BB through three starts. He's projected to face the Royals at home next week.
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White Sox's Chris Flexen: Posts quality start in loss
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Flexen (0-2) took a loss Saturday in Kansas City, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 6.1 innings of work. He struck out four.
It was a scoreless tie heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and Flexen was still out there with his pitch count low. However, just three pitches into the frame Flexen had yielded a leadoff single and a two-run homer to MJ Melendez. He was pulled after a one-out walk and watched that runner eventually score to add another run to his ledger. Flexen wound up throwing just 77 pitches over his 6.1 frames and registered a quality start but nonetheless was saddled with his second loss.
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White Sox's Chris Flexen: Allows four runs, saddled with loss
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Flexen (0-1) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks to earn the loss during Monday's loss to Atlanta. He struck out one.
Flexen started off strong by retiring the first seven batters he faced but only recorded six more outs while allowing nine baserunners and four runs during innings three through five. Flexen struggled with his command in throwing just nine of 22 first-pitch strikes, an uphill battle against any team, let alone against a dynamic Atlanta lineup. After posting consecutive seasons with an ERA of 3.61 and 3.73 over a combined 316.1 innings between 2021 and 2022, the veteran righty posted a 6.86 ERA and 1.67 WHIP last season over 102.1 innings between Colorado and Seattle. His season has gotten off to a rough start again this year, but he'll have an opportunity for a rebound this weekend as he's tentatively scheduled to face the Royals in Kansas City.
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White Sox's Chris Flexen: Making season debut Monday
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Flexen is scheduled to start Monday against Atlanta at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Between stops in Seattle and Colorado last season, Flexen turned in a 6.86 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 7.7 K-BB% across 102.1 innings. Despite those poor numbers, Flexen looks like he'll have plenty of leash in the White Sox rotation to begin the season, given the lack of attractive alternatives on the 40-man roster and on the farm. He'll tentatively line up for a two-start week with a more favorable outing on tap this weekend in pitcher-friendly Kansas City, but the upcoming start against a powerful Atlanta offense should be reason enough for fantasy managers to steer clear of Flexen in avoidance of ratio damage.
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White Sox's Chris Flexen: Will be used as full-time starter
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White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday that the club plans to use Flexen as a full-time starting pitcher in 2024, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Flexen -- who inked a one-year, $1.75 million contract last month -- has split his time between starting and relieving over the last two seasons, but the White Sox plan to give him a full starter's workload in 2024. The right-hander posted a rough 6.86 ERA and 74:38 K:BB through 102.1 innings in 2023 between the Mariners and Rockies, including a 7.18 ERA in 16 starts. However, Flexen generated a 3.66 ERA from 2021-22 with Seattle while being used mostly as a starter, and the White Sox will be hoping he returns to that form.
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White Sox's Chris Flexen: Signs with CWS
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Flexen signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the White Sox on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After recording a 3.66 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in his first two seasons with the Mariners, Flexen's numbers skyrocketed up to a 6.86 ERA and 1.67 WHIP last year through 102.1 total innings between Seattle and Colorado. Chicago's rotation projects to rank near the bottom of the AL again this year, so Flexen should have a fairly clear path to securing a starting job in 2024.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Closes campaign with quality start
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Flexen (2-8) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Thursday.
Flexen had a tough assignment on tap for his last outing, but he got the job done. He allowed a two-run home run to J.D. Martinez and a solo shot to Enrique Hernandez over the first two innings before settling down. Flexen hadn't gone six innings in any of his previous six appearances. He concludes the season with a 6.86 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 74:38 K:BB over 102.1 innings across 29 games (16 starts) between the Mariners and the Rockies.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Solid outing in Chicago
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Flexen did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out one.
After surrendering a run-scoring double to Ian Happ in the first frame, Flexen settled in and held the Cubs scoreless until a fifth-inning sacrifice fly accounted for his only other blemish. Unfortunately, Chicago's late rally disqualified the 29-year-old righty from earning his second win of the campaign. Saturday was the first time in Flexen's five September starts that he was able to limit the opposition to less than three runs, accumulating a 7.23 ERA and 1.56 WHIP acorss 23.2 frames. He currently lines up to face the Dodgers at Coors Field in his final regular-season start next week.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Hit with eighth loss
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Flexen (1-8) took the loss Sunday against the Giants after giving up four runs on five hits while striking out five over 5.1 innings.
Flexen got off to a very strong start, allowing just two hits and a run through five frames before things fell apart in the sixth. He began the inning with an out but proceeded to allow three straight hits and was pulled in favor of Matt Koch who could not help him strand the inherited runners. Some positives are that Flexen has struck out five batters in back-to-back starts and hasn't surrendered a home run in either start as well, both of which took place at Coors Field. He's struggled to a unsightly 7.19 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 70:34 K:BB in 91.1 innings. Flexen lines up for a road start against the Cubs this week.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Decent enough in no-decision
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Flexen did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.
Though he pitched to plenty of contact, Flexen managed to limit the damage while recording his third start of the season without a home run allowed. Since joining Colorado (44 innings), Flexen owns an unsightly 6.76 ERA alongside a 36:15 K:BB. He'll close out his two-start week Sunday at home against the Giants.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Early exit in Arizona
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Flexen (1-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing six runs on four hits and two walks over 2.1 innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out three.
Arizona exploded for five runs in the third inning after Flexen hit a pair of batters. The 29-year-old right-hander has allowed 10 runs in his last two starts (eight innings). Flexen's ERA is up to 7.36 with a 1.74 WHIP and 60:32 K:BB across 80.2 innings between the Rockies and Mariners this season. He's tentatively lined up for a home matchup with the Cubs in his next outing.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Ineffective against Blue Jays
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Flexen did not factor into the decision Friday, surrendering four runs on seven hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in the Rockies' 13-9 loss to the Blue Jays.
Flexen struggled to keep the ball in the yard, allowing three homers -- most notably a two-run shot by Danny Jansen with one out in the top of the sixth inning. The right-hander nearly reached six innings for the third time in four starts. Since the beginning of August, Flexen has posted a 5.23 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with 24 strikeouts over 32.2 innings in six starts,
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Solid despite loss
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Flexen (1-2) took the loss Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk over five innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.
Flexen held the Orioles scoreless until the fifth inning, when a throwing error by Elias Diaz advanced Austin Hays into scoring position and ultimately across the plate. Overall, it was a strong performance for Flexen, who didn't allow a single extra-base hit and set a season high in strikeouts. After giving up 12 earned runs over his first three outings in August, Flexen has given up three across his most recent pair of starts. He's tentatively lined up to make his next start at Coors Field against the Blue Jays.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Solid in quality start
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Flexen allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and struck out five without walking a batter over six innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Sunday.
This was just the third time all year Flexen's gone six innings in an appearance, and it was also his first quality start. Despite the solid outing, he came away with a third straight no-decision after the Rockies' bullpen imploded in the eighth inning. Flexen is now at a 7.18 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 50:28 K:BB with 19 home runs allowed over 67.2 innings between the Rockies and the Mariners this year. The right-hander is projected to make his next start on the road in Baltimore.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Hangs around for six frames
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Flexen allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six batters over six innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Monday.
Though Flexen gave up four runs and departed in line for the loss, this was arguably his best performance in a Colorado uniform, as he completed six innings for the first time and tallied a season-high six punchouts. The right-hander yielded a run in each of the first two innings but settled down after that until Christian Walker hit a two-run homer off him in the sixth. Flexen had given up two long balls in each of his first three games with the Rockies, so even surrendering just one home run was an improvement. An eighth-inning Colorado comeback took the veteran hurler off the hook for the loss, but there's still little reason to roster him in all but the deepest of fantasy leagues given his 7.74 ERA and 6.6 K/9 on the campaign.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Tagged for five runs
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Flexen did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings against the Brewers. He struck out four.
Flexen looked good early, striking out two of the first three batters he faced before hurling three scoreless innings. However, he began to struggle with his command in the fourth, allowing three runs on three hits while needing 30 pitches to get out of the inning. The right-hander then surrendered back-to-back home runs with two outs in the fifth before being relieved by Daniel Bard to open the next frame. Flexen has now allowed five runs in two of his three starts since joining the Rockies and has surrendered two long balls in each contest.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Collects win Friday
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Flexen (1-5) allowed three runs on 10 hits and struck out two without walking a batter over five innings Friday, earning the win over the Cardinals.
Flexen gave up solo home runs to Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman, but he was able to work himself out of some other jams in his first win of the season. The right-hander has been tagged for four homers over 8.2 innings in his two starts with the Rockies, but he did display better control Friday. Flexen has a 7.82 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 35:25 K:BB through 50.2 innings this season between Colorado and Seattle. He's tentatively lined up for a road start in Milwaukee next week.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Picks up another start
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Flexen is scheduled to start Friday's series opener with the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Despite walking six batters and giving up four hits -- including two home runs -- while failing to escape the fourth inning in his first start with Colorado last week against Oakland, the veteran right-hander will get another turn through the rotation. Even though the Rockies aren't teeming with appealing alternatives in the rotation, Flexen may still have a short leash with the big club if he fails to show any notable improvement this weekend. He'll at least have the benefit of working in a more pitcher-friendly venue in St. Louis after his Rockies debut came at Coors Field.
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Rockies' Chris Flexen: Struggles in Colorado debut
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Flexen (0-5) allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits and six walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings to take the loss versus the Athletics on Saturday.
The altitude usually makes its presence known on batted balls, but Flexen was far too generous with free passes to have an acceptable outing in his Rockies debut. His six walks Saturday doubled his previous season high. The right-hander is now at an 8.08 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 33:25 K:BB over 45.2 innings between the Rockies and the Mariners this season. While it was far from an encouraging effort, Colorado's rotation needs arms capable of covering innings, so Flexen could stick around for a while. He's tentatively lined up for a road start in St. Louis next week.
