The Chicago White Sox are trying to bounce back following their crushing 7-6 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. Cleveland is now only a half-game behind Chicago in the American League Central standings. The White Sox are adding a veteran to their lineup as Tommy Pham, who was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in late August, is set to make his debut with the team on Wednesday. Not only is Pham making his debut, but he is hitting cleanup for the White Sox in perhaps the team's biggest game of the season.

Pham was activated from the injured list, the team announced. However, it may not have happened on Wednesday if Pham did not run into White Sox general manager Chris Getz on the elevator on Tuesday night, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

Article Continues Below

“He (Pham) said he ran into Chris Getz in the elevator last night and told him he was ready. ‘What happens if you don’t run into him?' ‘Probably wait till this weekend,'” Rogers reported.

If the elevator visit never happened, it seems as if Pham may not have been activated on Wednesday and the White Sox would have had a different cleanup hitter for their crucial matchup in Cleveland.

The winner of Wednesday's game will take hold of first place in the American League Central division. There are still a couple of weeks left in the season so the contest won't officially determine the division winner. Still, a victory on Wednesday will give the victorious ball club a momentum boost.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland.