Just as the Chicago White Sox appeared to be nearing full strength, they will be without All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson for some time.
The Sox placed Anderson on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to Sunday.
“There’s just a lingering soreness,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said before Wednesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Guaranteed Rate Field. “With off days and, most importantly, this gives certainty that he’s 100% and then let him work out a bit. The 10 days allows that to happen.”
The Sox did not place Lucas Giolito on the IL, but the right-hander is likely to miss at least one start after leaving Tuesday’s game in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness.
“My understanding is the exam (Wednesday) showed just kind of a slight hamstring,” La Russa said. “Probably will miss at least a start. I think really just wait a few days, which should take us into Kansas City. See how he feels on Friday after two days.
“But it looks like it’s something you pay attention to but it’s optimistic we’ll get him back sooner rather than later.”
Giolito’s injury occurred the same day the Sox placed fellow starter Lance Lynn on the 10-day IL with right knee inflammation. The Sox are hopeful Lynn will miss only one start.
“In both cases, the priority — and it will be communicated — will be for them, like Tim, when you come back, you’re 100%,” La Russa said. “If there’s two weeks left in the season, that’s good, you’ll get enough work. If you only miss one start, that’s fine. It’s not having some kind of arbitrary deadline you must get back by. This is just letting Mother Nature take its course.”
Putting Anderson on the IL was one of six roster moves the Sox made Wednesday.
They also recalled pitcher Matt Foster and infielder/outfielder Gavin Sheets from Triple-A Charlotte, reinstated outfielder Billy Hamilton from the injured list, designated infielder/outfielder Jake Lamb for assignment and selected the contract of infielder Romy González from Charlotte as the roster expanded to 28 players.
Catcher Yasmani Grandal recently followed outfielders Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert in returning to the lineup after an injury and producing.
Now the Sox will be missing their spark at the top of the order with Anderson sidelined.
He missed four games Aug. 21-24 against the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays, then played the next four against the Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs before resting Sunday against the Cubs and Tuesday against the Pirates.
He is slashing .302/.331/.458 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 53 RBIs, 82 runs and 17 stolen bases in 108 games. He ranks fifth in the American League in average, tied for fifth in multi-hit games and tied for ninth in runs.
“I’d be careful guaranteeing he’ll be back in 10 days,” La Russa said. “I know that’s the expectation because he’s improved since Day 1 and he’s getting better. If you look forward and he keeps improving and he gets a chance to work out before the 10 days are up, there’s no guarantee. Here again, I think if there’s a little soreness, you just wait. Let’s get them healthy.”
González, 24, was slashing .275/.357/.525 with 15 doubles, 23 home runs, 57 RBIs, 58 runs and 22 stolen bases in 87 combined games with Double-A Birmingham (78) and Charlotte (nine). He is one of seven players in the minor leagues with 20 homers and 20 steals.
The Sox selected González in the 18th round of the 2018 draft. He has no major-league experience.
“I’m extremely blessed, I’m extremely grateful to be here,” he said. “I’m the type of guy to put my head down and play as hard as I can and just have fun.”
Hamilton went on the injured list retroactive to July 31 with a right oblique strain. He has a .226 average with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 11 RBIs, eight stolen bases and 19 runs in 57 games.
Sheets slashed .225/.293/.483 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and 10 runs in 29 games with the Sox from June 29 to Aug. 8. He slashed .295/.362/.507 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 36 runs in 60 games with Charlotte.
“(Hamilton has) been such a vocal presence,” La Russa said. “To be able to actually have him on the active roster, he’s got ways he can help us win. And you see Gavin’s in (Wednesday’s lineup). He’s one of the guys that really stepped up and helped win a lot of critical games there in the middle of the summer. It’s good to have him back. He’s earned at-bats.”
Foster is 2-1 with a 5.67 ERA, one save, two holds and 36 strikeouts in 31 relief appearances during four stints with the Sox in 2021.
Lamb was one of the players who filled in while Jiménez was on the injured list. He slashed .212/.321/.389 with six homers, 13 RBIs and 20 runs in 43 games.
“He’s got a lot of baseball,” La Russa said. “He did a good job for us. It’s just that if you look at where he plays and the opportunities to play, other guys have more versatility. But he showed a lot for us and I really do think he can help somebody.”
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