Lefty Rodon eager for season debut
Left- hander Carlos Rodon will make his first big- league start of the season Wednesday, and he hopes it goes better than his minor- league starts leading up to his date against the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Rodon, who has been on the disabled list all season with bursitis in his left biceps, pitched one game for Class A Winston Salem and three for Class AAA Charlotte, compiling a 10.06 ERA.
‘‘ It’s hard to say as a competitor that you’re ‘ trying to get ready,’’’ Rodon said. ‘‘ I’d like to give myself one start when I was rehabbing to get the stuff there, and then you’re going to compete. All of those starts, I was trying to compete. They just whipped my butt. That’s it.’’
Rodon said the injury issue is behind him, and his velocity was in the mid- 90s in those minor- league games, so that’s the main thing.
Even though he has pitched only two seasons in the majors, going a combined 18- 16 with a 3.90 ERA and 307 strikeouts in 304„ innings in 2015 and 2016, Rodon entered spring training as the Sox’ No. 2 starter before getting hurt.
‘‘ I haven’t been here all year, so I can’t really put myself as a leader,’’ Rodon said. ‘‘ I’m also one of the youngest guys [ 24]. My goal is just to go out there and pitch like it’s another game. It’s just the first one that is here.’’
Rodon said spending time in Charlotte gave him a taste of the Sox’ future.
‘‘ That was fun to watch,’’ he said. ‘‘ I can’t say they’re young because they’re the same age I am. [ Second baseman Yoan] Moncada is unbelievable, a good athlete, and there are some incredible arms down there. So I got to watch those guys a few times, too.’’
Just chill
Coming off a heavy dose of road travel, manager Rick Renteria saw Tuesday as a good day to allow his players to arrive at the ballpark later than usual— 5 p. m. for a 7: 10 p. m. game.
‘‘ I don’t do it very often, but this was a unique moment in time for us,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘ We’ve been on the road a lot, packing, unpacking every three or four days.’’
Renteria told his players to sleep in ‘‘ and take advantage of this particular day.’’
Renteria heeded his own advice and arrived at the park around noon. He usually gets there at 10 a. m. for a night game.
Seeing is believing
Shortstop Tim Anderson’s three- run home run in the ninth inning of the Sox’ 6- 5 loss Monday put more attention on his eyeglasses, which he has had for a couple of weeks but hadn’t used in a game before.
‘‘ Timmy just told us he wanted to get his eyes checked, so he did,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘ He’s trying to get comfortable with them.’’
‘‘ I’ve been using them in [ batting practice], trying to get used to them,’’ Anderson said Monday. ‘‘ I’m going to continue to use them the rest of the season.’’
This and that
Infielder Tyler Saladino, who has been on the disabled list since May 27 with a nerve issue in his back, said he’s ready to go on a rehab assignment to Charlotte. That might begin next week.
The Sox likely will announce the signings of Louisville righthanders Lincoln-Henzman ( fourth round of the draft) and Kade McClure ( sixth) and TCU catcher Evan Skoug ( seventh) on Wednesday.