Cannon’s Strong Outing Highlights Potential, But With Clevinger’s Return Looming Tough Decisions Are On The Way

Jonathan Cannon was just one out away from doing something that no White Sox pitcher has done since Dylan Cease in 2022. Throw a complete game shutout. 

But after throwing his 106th pitch of the night, which resulted in the go-ahead run coming to the plate, Pedro Grifol had no choice but to pull the 23-year-old rookie from the game. John Brebbia came in relief to cap off a 2-0 victory White Sox in front of 16,763 fans at Guaranteed Rate Field. While Cannon may have come short of getting a complete game shutout, it shouldn’t take away from his stellar performance. 

“I’ll definitely never forget this night,” Cannon told reporters after the game. “Hopefully the first of many more.”

In 8.2 innings of work, he carved through the Houston Astros lineup, striking out four and allowing just one walk.  While he gave up seven hits, most of them came off soft contact, like the two singles he allowed in the ninth inning. The outing marked his second consecutive quality start since returning to the White Sox rotation.

After his debut in April, Cannon got roughed up in his next two starts and was optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte.  Grifol said they gave him some things to work on in the minor leagues and he has since applied them to the major league level. When he rejoined the team in June, he made two relief appearances, which included his first career save, before returning to the starting rotation. 

“He knows he belongs here,” White Sox catcher Korey Lee told MLB.com after the game. “It’s one of those humps you have to get over when you are in this league. You are meant to be here for a reason. He’s 100% meant to be here. I have full confidence in him. He has full confidence in me.”  

There is a lot to like about Cannon. All five of his pitches seemingly have great movement and he can throw them all for strikes. On Tuesday night he attacked the Astros with a healthy balance of 37 sweepers, 31 sinkers, 19 cutters, 16 changeups, and just three four-seam fastballs. The former Georgia Bulldog attacks right-handers by going away with his sweepers and inside with his sinker to keep them off balance. The result was 12 ground balls against the Astros lineup. 

But as Cannon continued his growth as an MLB starter on Tuesday, Mike Clevinger returned to the mound in Triple-A Charlotte. Clevinger is required to make two rehab starts after being placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation in May. His next start is scheduled for June 23. The 33-year-old will likely bump Cannon or fellow rookie Drew Thorpe out of the rotation. It’s fair to wonder with their starts lining up on the same day of the week if Cannon will be the odd man out, once Clevinger is ready to return. 

If that is the case it would be a tough pill to swallow for fans. Clevinger has little to no trade value at this in the season. He is not seen as a long-term piece moving forward and is generally unliked by the fanbase. In his first four starts before landing on the IL, he posted a 6.75 ERA in 16 innings. The sample size is small and Clevinger has shown he can be effective. But after going unsigned through the offseason he needs time to build up his arm. With the injury setback, that process is going to be further delayed. Because of this, blocking a young arm like Cannon or Nastrini from learning in the MLB so Clevinger can start in a meaningless regular-season game is hard to justify. 

As Garrett Crochet continues his foray into his first season as a starting pitcher the White Sox could opt to go to a six-man rotation to help keep his arm fresh. However, Crochet has previously stated his arm still feels good. What that means for Cannon for the rest of the season is yet to be seen.