Far removed from survival mode, White Sox’ Lucas Giolito has everything under control

HOUSTON – Throughout Lucas Giolito’s struggle during a season in which he ranked last in the majors in ERA, opponents on-base percentage and walks per nine innings, the White Sox right-hander always said his confidence never, ever waned.

Truth be told, he wasn’t telling the truth.

“I like telling myself that,” Giolito said. “If you are not even lying to yourself, and saying you have no confidence you have no shot. That’s what kept me in survival mode through last year.”

On a rebuilding team, Giolito was afforded the gift of staying in the majors to work things out. Knowing the Sox believed in him helped.

“I would go into every game with confidence,” he said, “but it would diminish in bad situations. Whereas now it’s never diminishing.”

Giolito (5-1, 3.35 ERA) will start the final game of a four-game series Thursday against the Astros (33-16) one of baseball’s best teams. Eight starts into the season, now he feels like he has control of his fate. The biggest difference from a year ago is “knowing even in tough situations it’s not going to fall apart. I have everything under control.”

“I know what I need to do to reset mentally to get back on my game, make the adjustments I need to make,” Giolito said. “I will always be able to compete.

“There will be a point in the season when I don’t have a good game. But I have much more control over my fate in what I’m doing. I have confidence in every pitch I’m going to throw whereas in previous years I let things get out of control.”

Vieira recalled

Right-hander Thyago Vieira was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte, filling the roster spot of right-hander José Ruiz who was optioned to Charlotte following the Sox’ 5-0 loss to the Astros Tuesday.

Vieira, 26, was 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA, two saves and 19 strikeouts and eight walks over 13 relief appearances covering 16 1/3 innings with Charlotte. He appeared in one game over two stints with the Sox this season, earning a win with two scoreless innings of relief in Game 2 of a doubleheader on May 1 against the Orioles.

A fastball-slider power pitcher, Vieira has lit the radar gun at 100-mph throughout his career, but harnessing his stuff has always been the challenge. He uncorked six wild pitches while pitching to a 7.13 ERA in 17 1/3 innings with the Sox last season, and threw 13 wild pitches in 41 innings at Charlotte last season.

Banuelos throws bullpen

Left-hander Manny Banuelos threw a bullpen Wednesday afternoon at Minute Maid Park under the watch of pitching coach Don Cooper, bullpen coach Curt Hasler and trainer Brian Ball. On the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain, Banuelos is eligible to come off the IL Saturday when the Sox are listing a TBA as its starter.

“We have to see where we’re at with Manny [after Wednesday],” manager Rick Renteria said Tuesday, “and we’ll make a determination where we stand and decide what we’ll do with that start.”