White Sox right-hander Erik Johnson will make his first major-league start since April 2014 on Sunday against the Royals.
Johnson was called up Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte, and the Sox said he would initially work out of the bullpen. But they changed course two days later, inserting Johnson in the series finale in Kansas City.
The move makes sense because left-hander Chris Sale will be bumped to Monday afternoon’s game at U.S. Cellular Field, and that should help the Sox draw more fans on Labor Day.
Johnson last pitched for the Sox on April 25, 2014, when he gave up four earned runs over 1 2/3 innings and then was sent back to Charlotte for nearly two seasons.