Strained back lands Lopez on DL
ARLINGTON, Texas — The White Sox put righthander Reynaldo Lopez on the 10- day disabled list ( retroactive to August 18) with a strained back Saturday and purchased the contract of righthander Danny Farquhar from Class AAA Charlotte.
The move set off a couple changes in the Sox’ pitching plans for early next week, most notably moving righthander Lucas Giolito’s Sox debut to Tuesday against the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field. Giolito was pegged to start in the doubleheader Monday, but will start in Lopez’s place Tuesday. Carson Fulmer will be called up from Charlotte as the 26th man and start Game 2 of the twinbill, with Carlos Rodon pitching Game 1.
“For right now it’s just going to be one start [ for Fulmer],’’ manager Rick Renteria said. “Then he’ll go back.’’
Fulmer, drafted eighth overall by the Sox and in 2015, has dropped to No. 11 on the list of Sox prospects according to MLB. com. He is 7- 8 with a 5.61 ERA with 95 strikeouts and 63 walks over 122 innings at Charlotte. This will be his first career start following eight relief appearances in 2016 when he was 0- 2 with an 8.59 ERA.
Lopez, 23, one of the Sox’ top pitching prospects, made only two starts after getting called up from Charlotte last week. He left his second outing against the Rangers during the fifth inning Thursday with what was called soreness on his right side.
“It’s a precautionary measure,’’ Renteria said. “We feel really good about where he’s at. It wasn’t his side exactly. It was more toward his back, I guess. He’s feeling good. It’s a good move to slow it down and make sure he’s OK.”
After pitching six innings of two- run ball against the Royals last Friday, Lopez gave up six runs on five hits and four walks over 4„ innings Thursday. He said he woke up with soreness in his side.
Moncada sidelined
Second baseman Yoan Moncada was scratched from the lineup with shin splints on his right leg.
“He’s been playing with it for a couple of days,’’ Renteria said. “He was feeling it enough like it would impede him a little bit.’’
Moncada has not had shin splints before. He expected to be back Sunday or Monday. “But it’s not something that you have to be concerned about,’’ he said through an interpreter.
Renteria also said Matt Davidson, who is with the team while on the disabled list with a bruised right wrist, will continue to take batting practice and infield work into early next week before a determination is made on whether he will need a minor- league rehab assignment.
Farquhar idolized Renteria
Farquhar, a Florida native and Marlins fan as a child, has a picture of him as a 7- year- old hugging Renteria when the Sox manager was a Marlins infielder in the early 1990s.
“He was my favorite player growing up; I don’t know why,’’ Farquhar said Saturday. “You had [ Marlins] Gary Sheffield, Jeff Conine, Robb Nen, all the players to choose from and I chose Rick Renteria, ‘ the secret weapon.’ ’’
Farquhar, 30, was signed as a minor- league free agent on July 24 after he was designated for assignment by the Rays.
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