Carson Kelly was not in Chicago's lineup Thursday against the Athletics, another night off after a rough stretch at the plate. Moises Ballesteros took over catching duties, while Pedro Ramirez worked as the designated hitter.
The change came after Kelly went 0-for-11 across his last three contests, and Thursday marked the fourth time in seven games that he had been kept on the sidelines. For a Chicago club that still needed a catcher in the lineup, the decision to keep Kelly out and use Ballesteros behind the plate instead showed how quickly the team had shifted its setup.
Kelly's absence was the clearest sign that Chicago was willing to ride the hot hand, or at least the healthier option, while his bat cools. What Chicago does next is the real question now: whether Kelly is back in the lineup for the next game or whether this becomes a longer spell on the bench.
