The Chicago White Sox placed starting pitcher Carlos Rodón on the 10-day injured list with left shoulder fatigue, leaving a gap in the rotation for an indefinite time frame.
Manager Tony La Russa said Rodón came to Target Field in Minneapolis on Tuesday and informed the Sox of arm soreness. He was scheduled to start Thursday’s Field of Dreams game against the New York Yankees in Dyersville, Iowa.
“We’re hoping it’s a short break and we’re hoping he’s back sooner than later,” La Russa said before Wednesday’s game via teleconference.
La Russa said the Sox would “err on the side of caution” and hinted Rodón could miss a few starts. Rodón returned to Chicago for further evaluation, including an MRI. The left-hander underwent shoulder surgery in September 2017 and had Tommy John elbow surgery in May 2019.
Reynaldo López replaced Rodón in the rotation Wednesday, allowing one hit in three scoreless innings in a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Lopez will get at least one more start and perhaps more, depending on Rodón’s status.
Lance Lynn will start Thursday’s Field of Dreams game, which has been hyped for two years now.
“I don’t really watch TV, so I haven’t been paying attention to anything,” Lynn said.
Lynn said he enjoyed the 1989 movie but wasn’t sure if most Sox players had seen it.
“Half the team we have here are probably too young to realize what the movie was,” he said. “So for us older guys, it probably has a little bit more meaning to be a part of something like this, especially when that movie growing up was one of the ones you watched as a baseball movie.
“Should be fun. Whenever you’re playing the Yankees anywhere, and then doing it in a place like this, it should be an interesting and a fun night.”
La Russa also announced he will miss Thursday’s nationally televised game to attend his brother-in-law’s funeral. Bench coach Miguel Cairo will manage in La Russa’s place.
“I guarantee no one will pay more attention to the game than he will,” La Russa said.
The loss of Rodón is a blow to the Sox rotation, but with a comfortable lead in the American League Central, they can take their time before deciding how long to keep him out. Rodón struck out 11 in five-plus innings against the Cubs on Saturday at Wrigley Field and has enjoyed a comeback season after being non-tendered last winter and re-signing in the offseason. He threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in April and was named to his first All-Star team in July.
La Russa said Rodón felt fine after the start at Wrigley before experiencing soreness a few days later. He’s a free agent after the season and stands to cash in if he continues his success in 2021 and proves he can remain healthy for an entire season.
“He wasn’t happy about it,” Lynn said of his teammate. “The season he’s having and stuff like that, he wanted to keep going. I don’t think it’s going to be anything crazy, but you never know. But he seems to think a little rest will help and he’ll be ready to go here in the near future.”
La Russa said the Sox have treated Rodón with caution knowing his history of injuries.
“It’s a long season, he’s gotten extra rest,” La Russa said. “Sometimes you push, and you’ve got to back off.”
Lopez, a former top prospect who was starting in Triple A before joining the Sox bullpen last month, will be stretched out in case he’s needed for more than a couple of starts.
“I have confidence in myself and all my pitches,” Lopez said through an interpreter after Wednesday’s start. “That’s a big key because as soon as you start losing your confidence, bad stuff is going to happen.”
Jorge Polanco’s sixth-inning home run off José Ruiz was the difference Wednesday, giving the Twins the series victory in their final meeting of 2021. La Russa lauded Lopez’s performance and said he will be watched closely. He also mentioned Charlotte starter Jimmy Lambert as a possible replacement down the line.
Michael Kopech — in his first year back since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018, missing 2019 and opting out of 2020 — was not considered for Rodón’s spot because of his value in the bullpen and the time of the season.
“We’re now into August, and extending him to where he would be a starter of his potential would take a number of starts,” La Russa said. “And it takes him out of that role that we really need him, and especially when you expect Carlos to be back.
“No, I think we’ll leave him alone. The weather being what it is, there’s a chance sometime later on when he starts a seven-inning game. We’ll see. … But it’s not realistic. It’s just too late in the season to try to make him a starter.”
The Sox called up Matt Foster from Charlotte to take Rodón’s roster spot and announced catcher Yasmani Grandal has been sent to Double-A Birmingham to begin his rehab stint.
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