Rienzo back in bigs; Paulino put on 15-day DL
ARLINGTON, Texas — Andre Rienzo was brought up from Class AAA Charlotte on Saturday, and Tommy Hanson was also on the move in the wake of Felipe Paulino’s woeful start in which he gave up 10 runs in 3 ⅔ innings in a 12-0 loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday.
Paulino, 30, signed as a free agent during the offseason to fill a spot at the back of the White Sox’ rotation, was put on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right rotator cuff. He hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2012 because of elbow (major) and shoulder (minor) surgeries, and even though he said after Friday’s performance that he was healthy, he has skipped recent side sessions between starts.
“I tried to fight with this,’’ Paulino said Saturday. “I can’t pitch or function right now.’’
Rienzo, a 6-3 right-hander who hasn’t dazzled anyone at Charlotte this spring, likely will assume Paulino’s spot and face the Tigers in Detroit on Wednesday. But manager Robin Ventura had him down for being available in the bullpen for a day or two, so he didn’t make that official.
Rienzo made 10 starts for the Sox after getting called up July 30, pitching to a 4.82 ERA with a 2-3 record. The Brazilian with the big overhand curve walked 28 in 55 innings and struggled at times with command. It was more of the same in his three starts at Charlotte this month: seven walks, nine strikeouts, 15 hits and seven earned runs in 13 innings. His record was 0-2. He has lowered his arm slot slightly in hopes of getting more movement on his pitches.
Ventura said Rienzo will have to be around the plate more.
“It can shock you enough to sharpen you back up, knowing these guys can hurt you if you don’t get it in the zone and put guys on base,’’ Ventura said.
“I did not expect it,’’ said Rienzo, who was all smiles in the visitors’ clubhouse at Globe Life Park after receiving the news at 3 a.m. from Charlotte manager Joel Skinner.
The Sox might be trying to catch lightning in a bottle with Hanson, 27, who went to extended spring training after the Sox signed him to a minor-league contract on April 7. He will start for Charlotte on Sunday.
Considered one of the top young right-handers in the game before he encountered shoulder problems that have take a couple of ticks off his fastball, Hanson was given a shot to make the Rangers’ rotation during spring training but was released.
Hanson was 4-3, 5.42 in 15 games including 13 starts for the Los Angeles Angels last season.
This and that
Adam Eaton will miss at least three days, Ventura said, after he left the game in the fifth inning for the second consecutive night. Eaton, who tweaked his left ankle rounding first base Friday, also has a mild hamstring strain just above the area behind his left knee. “Precautionary,’’ Eaton said. “I just need to take care of the body a little better, and we’ll be just fine.’’
Lefty Donnie Veal, who was designated for assignment Thursday, was outrighted to Charlotte.
Chris Sale, who will oppose Justin Verlander in Detroit on Tuesday, will skip his normal side session Sunday after throwing a career-high 127 pitches against the Red Sox on Thursday.