OAKLAND, Calif. -- Zach Duke hasn’t required many extra curricular activities to stay occupied in the White Sox bullpen this week.
He only has two appearances, but the White Sox reliever has already been up and down at least four times. The left-hander isn’t alone as the White Sox have played in three consecutive one-run games to start the season — the most for the franchise to start since 1972.
But Duke — who has only faced two batters — said Thursday he and his fellow relievers are up to the task, especially if it results in more wins.
“It’s been real busy,” Duke said. “But it has been good, quality baseball.
“Those are the situations that we want to be in.”
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Even though they’re built around pitching, the White Sox are hopeful their offense has improved enough to keep them out of one- and two-run games this season.
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They played in 91 of them last season, including a major-league high 59 one-run games. The White Sox were 29-30 in one-run games and 16-16 in two-run games.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura is confident his pitchers can handle themselves and the requisite workload. Even though Nate Jones is back, the White Sox bullpen received a nice reinforcing piece when Matt Albers returned on a one-year deal.
“You’d rather win by five every single time, but that’s not the way it always works,” Ventura said. “I know by reactions and the way they’re feeling, I like us in close games. I like our chances with that.
“They’ve been used to it. They’ve been in a lot of close games in the past.”
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Duke likes how he and the relievers have had to stay focused on the games. Given that last year’s losing record, he’d rather do that than be worried about when he might next get into a game.
“We thrive on those kinds of games,” Duke said. “It keeps you mentally engaged a little more and makes it more fun to watch.”