Asche could be Sox’ Opening Day DH vs. Verlander
The White Sox’ Opening Day roster came into focus a few days ago and was set with no surprises Saturday while they were playing their last game of spring training, a 5- 4 loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee. The roster will be made official after the team’s workout Sunday morning at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox open the season Monday against the Tigers.
Here’s how the roster breaks down:
Pitchers — Jose Quintana, James Shields, Miguel Gonzalez, Derek Holland, Dylan Covey, David Robertson, Nate Jones, Jake Petricka, Zach Putnam, Dan Jennings, Anthony Swarzak, Michael Ynoa.
Outfielders — Melky Cabrera, Avisail Garcia, Jacob May, Cody Asche.
Infielders — Todd Frazier, Tim Anderson, Tyler Saladino, Yolmer Sanchez, Matt Davidson, Jose Abreu, Leury Garcia.
Catchers — Omar Narvaez, Geovany Soto.
Looks like we made it
Soto, Asche and Swarzak were non- roster invitees to spring training. The left- handed- hitting Asche and right- handed- hitting Davidson will be used at designated hitter, but it’s not a two- man platoon. Manager Rick Renteria plans to fill the DH slot with numerous options, including Abreu, Cabrera and Frazier to help keep them fresh.
Once considered a top Phillies prospect, Asche, 26, could be the Opening Day DH against righthander Justin Verlander. He owns a .240/. 298/. 385 slash line with 31 home runs in 1,287 career plate appearances.
Asche batted .289 with four homers, nine RBI and 10 walks in spring training.
“He’s a professional hitter,’’ Renteria told reporters. “He has some experience, and he gave us some really good at- bats in the spring.’’
Asche can play the outfield and infield corners, but his defense has been so- so at best. Davidson, a third baseman, can also play first.
Leury Garcia plays three infield positions and will be May’s backup in center field. Sanchez also plays three infield positions, giving the bench some flexible pieces. Garcia and Sanchez are switch hitters.
Rodon on disabled list
Left- hander Carlos Rodon ( bursitis in left biceps) will open the season on the 10- day disabled list, as expected. Rodon was shelved March 24 after making one Cactus League start.
“He feels pretty good right now, actually,’’ general manager Rick Hahn said on 890- AM’s “White Sox Weekly” show. “The pain has subsided.’’
Rodon is on a throwing program, staying at the Sox’ training complex in Glendale, Arizona. He is scheduled to be re- evaluated April 10.
“Assuming he continues to feel good and he makes progress, then we’ll work on ramping him back up into extended games and a rehab assignment before he returns,’’ Hahn said.
Holland, Gonzalez sharp
Holland started and struck out four Brewers in two innings, allowing two hits, and Gonzalez pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout in strong final tuneups for the third and fourth starters in the rotation.
Here are the probable starters for the season- opening series against the Tigers: Monday, Verlander vs. Quintana; Wednesday, Jordan Zimmermann vs. Shields; Thursday, Daniel Norris vs. Holland.
Gonzalez will face the Twins on Friday, and the Sox could go back to Quintana on four days of rest Saturday.
This and that
Cabrera hit his second homer of the spring and Abreu his fourth.
The Sox finished the spring with a 16- 17- 2 record.
Brewers catcher Rene Garcia was carted off in the ninth inning after colliding with Nicky Delmonico, who beat a throw home to score the tying run on Danny Hayes’ sacrifice fly.
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