He Gone

Talk about getting shown up. Just hours after I blasted them, Luis Robert Jr. and Yoan Moncada blasted back. Robert launched a three-run homer while Moncada collected two doubles in a 6-1 White Sox win over the Nationals. Mike Clevinger settled on a complete game after losing his shutout to a Dominic Smith two-out solo shot in the bottom of the ninth. Clevinger’s performance practically insures he’s out the door come October; good numbers and a good report card should get him a pretty decent contract, multiyear even. He’s 8-8 on the season with a 3.42 ERA. The only question for possible suitors will be durability. Clevinger has landed on the IL twice, which explains the 123.2 innings. But if the Yankees signed Carlos Rodon, somebody will pick up Mike Clevinger. Clevinger came to the Sox the target of a baseball investigation over domestic-abuse allegations. He was cleared and has pretty much been a model citizen all season, available to reporters—provided they ask baseball-only questions—and even catching the first pitch from Blackhawks’ great Chris Chellios last weekend. Not necessarily a good guy, but one smart enough to know what he has to do to stay employed. And why would he want to do that with a team closing in on 100 losses?