When the White Sox signed Seranthony Dominguez in January, they anticipated him closing a lot of games for them. They didn’t give him a two-year, $20 million contract for mop-up duty.
Dominguez expected to be the closer, too. But more than three months into his deal, he not only isn’t closing, he isn’t pitching in high-leverage, late-game situations. He’s tied for second in the major leagues with five blown saves, and his 4.85 ERA would be the worst of his career.
“It’s a hard moment for me right now,” Dominguez told the Sun-Times before the Sox’ game Tuesday against the Red Sox. “I’m trying to do my best. I didn’t get the start that I’m looking for. But I’m still trying to find a way to help the team win. Doing my best, put on my best face, [giving] my best effort every time I go out.”
The Sox were forced into using Dominguez in a key spot Friday in Cleveland, and it didn’t work out. Forced to remove starter Anthony Kay after four innings because of a rain delay, the Sox pieced together a plan that included Dominguez pitching in the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead. He walked two of the three batters he faced, and both came around to score to tie it.
“We’re talking about delivery, and we’re talking about attacking the strike zone more,” Dominguez said, “attacking the strike zone” being a common refrain among Sox pitchers. “This is the key for me right now: be more aggressive in the strike zone and try to make better pitches.”
It sounds simple, but manager Will Venable explained why that has been hard for Dominguez, whose 5.5 walks per nine innings also would be the worst of his career.
“His stuff just moves so much,” Venable said. “We’re trying to harness his stuff and get it into the zone. That’s obviously something we know all our guys are working on. For him, there’s just different considerations, whether it be catcher targeting or where he’s trying to start some of these pitches. Just got to figure out a way to get him in the zone. So that’s what he’s working on, and working hard at it.”
Dominguez still has 12 saves this season, his most since he had 16 as a rookie with the Phillies in 2018. But 11 came in April and May. After leaning on Dominguez in those months, the Sox have shifted to a bullpen by committee, which has worked more than it hasn’t. And at least until Dominguez finds the strike zone, Venable is sticking with it.
“We’re going to be consistent with how we’ve approached this,” he said. “Call these guys whatever you want to call them, we’re going to find the best spot for these guys to be successful and do everything we can to find the right pockets of opposing lineups. There’s all kinds of considerations as we try to find a path to the end of these games. So it’s going to look different every single night, like it did before.”
That has led to seven pitchers earning saves for the Sox, led by Bryan Hudson, Sean Newcomb and Grant Taylor with three each. Taylor and Newcomb earned consecutive saves Saturday and Sunday to help the Sox earn a series split with the Guardians.
“I have struggled before,” Dominguez said. “I know [those] moments are going to happen, but it’s hard when you’re in those moments. But it’s like I said before: put on your best face, [give] your best effort and try to find a way to help the team win.”
Dominguez also could give the Sox valuable postseason experience, having pitched for the Blue Jays on their run to the World Series last season. But even then, walks were a problem. He issued 11 free passes with 10 strikeouts in 11 ⅓ postseason innings.
Fortunately for him, he has felt supported by his teammates.
“This is a really good clubhouse,” Dominguez said. “We are a unit, everyone. Everybody tries to make you feel good and doesn’t let you put your head down.”