Small-ball White Sox strive for repeat win against concerned Blue Jays

The Chicago White Sox hope going small will bring big results.

The approach has given them a chance to clinch their three-game series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. The White Sox used small ball as they defeated the Jays 5-4 in their home opener Friday afternoon after a 1-5 road trip.

A double steal in the third inning set up Austin Hays' two-run single.

In a two-run 10th for Chicago, Derek Hill's bunt single and an errant throw to first by Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman -- who had just entered the game after Alejandro Kirk departed with a left-thumb injury -- allowed him to reach second as the tying run. Tristan Peters won the game with a single to right.

"That bunt was incredible," Peters said. "Just to keep us in the game like that. And then I'm just thinking, I know Derek is very fast, so a single scores him. I'm just trying to make contact and get it on the grass in the outfield somewhere."

Chicago manager Will Venable said the win was crucial.

"We've got to find any way we can, especially in the AL Central in April," he said. "We know there's going to be wind, weather. Slug is maybe not part of our offensive package, and we've got to find any way we can."

"That's just the way we kind of have to play the game," Hill said. "We're not like a huge slugging team like the Dodgers, where you have four guys that can hit 30 (homers). So we've got to play that small ball, we've got to play clean."

For the Blue Jays, Kirk's situation is worrisome. He was to have X-rays after leaving the game in the 10th after taking a foul ball off his glove hand. The team did not announce the results overnight.

"It's more the thumb," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "It hurts, especially on a cold day. We're hoping that it's nothing serious. He's about as tough as they come, so for him to come out, you don't love it. It was just all thumb, no wrist."

Brandon Valenzuela, who is at Triple-A Buffalo, would get the call up if Toronto needs another catcher on Saturday.

The Blue Jays opened the season by sweeping a three-game series against the Athletics. Toronto has dropped three of four since, including losing two of three to the Colorado Rockies. The game in Chicago was the Jays' first on the road this season.

They have scored a total of five runs in their past two games -- both 10-inning losses -- as their offense has yet to click consistently.

Former Blue Jays left-hander Anthony Kay (0-0, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to be the bulk pitcher for the White Sox on Saturday. He has never faced his former team.

He pitched for the Yokohama BayStars in the Japan Central League in 2025, going 9-6 with a 1.74 ERA in 24 games.

In 28 games (seven starts) for Toronto from 2019-22, he posted a 4-2 record with a 5.48 ERA.

Grant Taylor (0-0, 3.00), who pitched a perfect first inning on Friday as the opener for Sean Burke, is expected to open again on Saturday. Taylor threw only nine pitches on Friday.

Toronto left-hander Eric Lauer will miss his scheduled start on Saturday because of illness and is scheduled to pitch Sunday instead. Toronto will go with an opener on Saturday, with left-handed reliever Mason Fluharty (0-0, 10.80 ERA) expected to lead a parade from the bullpen.

Fluharty's one career outing against the White Sox came on June 20, 2025. He allowed three runs in one relief inning in a 7-1 loss.

--Field Level Media