Rodon eyes return to rotation
White Sox left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon said his shoulder and body “feel great,” and after throwing at 90 feet Monday, he was optimistic about making a start in Toronto next week.
Rodon landed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday (retroactive to Aug. 8) with shoulder fatigue. His injury history warranted concern but this issue is more about in-season soreness and not injury.
“I guess the good thing from being hurt and having serious injuries is you know what hurt is and you can tell the difference,” he said. “Today I felt really good.”
Rodon said his MRI last week came back clean.
“I’m telling you I’m looking forward to making that next start,” he said.
Rodon had been healthy and enjoying the best start of his career with a 9-5 record and 2.38 ERA. He pitched a no-hitter against the Indians in April and made the AllStar team.
“After that Cubs start [in which he struck out 11 in five innings Aug. 8 at Wrigley Field], I didn’t recover quite as well as I would have liked,” he said. “Would rather be at 100% or close to 100% competing out there for my team. It was one of those decisions.
“Today I felt great. Tomorrow is going to be another great day.”
Engel to IL, bullpen gets help
Outfielder Adam Engel landed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation, right-hander Matt Foster was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte and righties Ryan Burr and Mike Wright were recalled, giving manager Tony La Russa nine relievers to work with.
La Russa said Engel, who exited the ‘‘Field of Dreams’’ game Thursday with groin soreness, is expected to come off the IL in 10 days. With Dallas Keuchel starting Monday against the Athletics and Reynaldo Lopez, who is not fully stretched out, starting Tuesday, bullpen arms will be needed. Foster pitched Saturday and Sunday and wouldn’t have been available Monday.
“It’s all about being able to have fresh arms and not getting into a situation where you’re pitching guys who should not pitch,” La Russa said.
Wright, 31, was 7-5 with a 3.40 ERA over 16 starts with Charlotte.
Burdi DFA’d
To make room on the 40-man roster for Wright, right-hander Zack Burdi was designated for assignment. A 2016 first-round draft pick, Burdi has battled injuries in his career and is 0-2 with a 7.20 ERA over 23 relief appearances with Charlotte. In six games with the Sox this year, he allowed six earned runs in nine innings.
Burdi, a Downers Grove South graduate, was drafted in the first round in 2016.
Upon further review
La Russa admitted Monday he should have challenged an out call on Tim Anderson in the seventh inning of a 5-3 loss to the Yankees on Sunday.
“And I blame myself more than I blame [pregame instructor Mike Kashirsky in the video room] because we get into the seventh inning, it’s close, it’s a good shot to take,” La Russa said. “But what I said yesterday is what I heard, it was a tie and all that. But watching it, it looks we would have had a good chance. That would have been a big play.”