Chicago Sun-Times

Mazara goes on 10-day injured list

- BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN, STAFF REPORTER dvanschouw­en@suntimes.com | @CST_soxvan

The White Sox will open the season without right fielder Nomar Mazara, who went on the 10-day injured list for an unspecifie­d reason Wednesday.

Without the left-handed-hitting Mazara, the Sox, who host the Twins on Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field, might consider a platoon of right-handedhitt­ing Adam Engel and left-handed-hitting Nicky Delmonico, who started in right field and hit a tworun home run in the Sox’ 5-3 exhibition loss to the Brewers on Wednesday.

Manager Rick Renteria said he would discuss who would take Mazara’s spot after the 30-man roster is announced Thursday afternoon.

“We’re comfortabl­e with the options we have,” Renteria said.

Right field is a new spot for Delmonico, a career .227/.315/.393 hitter with 18 homers in 152 games. He would have to be added to the 40-man roster.

The Sox did not give a reason for the Mazara move. Renteria has been saying this week that Mazara was “under the weather.”

When a player goes on the injured list with no explanatio­n, it points to the coronaviru­s as a possible reason, especially when it’s known the player hasn’t been feeling well. Teams aren’t required to specify the reason if players test positive.

Good start for emotional Rodon

Other than getting nicked by oppositefi­eld solo home runs by Keston Hiura and Christian Yelich in his last tuneup before his first start of the regular season, lefthander Carlos Rodon was quite pleased. And very emotional.

Rodon allowed two earned runs, five hits and one walk and struck out seven in five innings, showing good command with a fastball averaging 93 mph. He will make his first start in Cleveland, probably on Tuesday, if he’s the fifth starter as expected.

Rodon had Tommy John surgery in May, which followed offseason shoulder surgery before the 2018 season, and while reflecting on his comeback after pitching, he walked away momentaril­y from his Zoom interview, wiping tears from his eyes.

“Through my time with the White Sox, we’ve had a few ups and downs,” Rodon said, “and that’s kind of where I’ve had to learn how to mature, and I think I’ve grown a lot through them. It hasn’t been easy, especially this one [the Tommy John surgery] coming off a shoulder [surgery]. Honestly, having my baby girl, Willow, kind of got me through the TJ. And it’s been a ride, man.”

Cease, Lopez, Rodon ‘vitally important’

Renteria, who will start Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel on Friday and

Saturday against the Twins, said he would announce Sunday’s starter — which would be Dylan Cease or Reynaldo Lopez —on Thursday.

Much of the Sox’ season rests on the shoulders of Cease, Lopez and Rodon, Renteria said.

“It’s vitally important for us to have those three guys do well,” Renteria said.

“[They have to] give us innings, and that requires efficiency, commanding the zone. It’s a huge moment in time for them in terms of, for one, Rodon re-establishi­ng himself after coming back healthy and feeling good, the other two continuing to evolve and developing who they are as major-leaguers. This is still a pivotal time in their careers and for us as an organizati­on, and we are very hopeful they’ll do well.”

LuBob leap

Center fielder Luis Robert leaped over the wall to glove a long drive by Ben Gamel, but his glove and the ball fell to the ground for a home run. Robert doubled and drove in a run with a groundout.

 ?? JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES ?? Left-hander Carlos Rodon allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in five innings Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out seven.
JONATHAN DANIEL/GETTY IMAGES Left-hander Carlos Rodon allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits in five innings Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out seven.
 ??  ?? Nomar Mazara
Nomar Mazara

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