The Chicago White Sox are right in the thick of a three-headed teeth-clenching battle for the AL Central division lead. Their 28-16 record – good for a .636 winning percentage – not only has them on pace for 103 wins over a full 162-game season, but it places them a game ahead of the Twins for the division crown with a 2 1/2 game cushion over the Indians.
When it became clear that Luis Robert would start the season with the big league club, expectations rose for the southsiders, but few expected them to make a run for the division lead. Robert, as the brightest star in a shimmering youth movement, has done his part to rise the club’s profile and competitive level with a triple slash of .260/.324/.526 with stellar and eye-catching defense in center.
But beyond the youth movement, Chicago has enjoyed relatively sound health this season from their core producers. Dallas Keuchel’s back issues have put a bit of a damper of that storyline, but he’s hoping to return to start Thursday’s game. Carlos Rodón, however, has been a perennial injured list denizen since making his big-league debut in 2015. The 27-year-old made it back to the bump for two rusty outings early this season before returning to the training room with shoulder soreness. Soreness in his back and ribcage area has kept him out further, but he’s nearing full health.
Rodón plans to throw off a mound as early as Monday in the hopes of returning to the active roster this season, per The Athletic’s James Fegan (via Twitter). This late in the season, especially after such a prolonged absence, means that Rodón is unlikely to reclaim a spot in the rotation. Lucas Giolito has his rotation spot on lock, and Keuchel will be right behind him if he can stay healthy. Dylan Cease, Dane Dunning, Gio Gonzalez, and Reynaldo Lopez are all auditioning to make the playoff rotation. There may be space for Rodón in the bullpen, however.
Manager Rick Renteria may soon have a couple more southpaws at his disposal. After establishing himself as one of the premier worm killers in the game last season, Aaron Bummer has made just 7 appearances this season – strong as they may be. Bummer holds a 1.23 ERA/1.55 FIP over 7 1/3 innings with an absurd 78.6% groundball percentage. It’s a small sample but Bummer also struck out 12 batters in that span, good for 14.73 K/9. Bummer has twice been placed on the injured list with a left biceps strain, but his recovery remains on track. If all continues as planned, Bummer should be able to join the team in time for their final road trip that takes them through the state of Ohio for series with the Reds and Indians, per MLB.com’s Scott Merkin (via Twitter).
I’m really unclear as to why Lopez is back. He’s a lost cause until he gets his head out of his @ss, and someone like that is not what this team currently needs. They better sign Bauer or another veteran starter in the offseason.
He’s back for today only because they put Keuchel on the 10 day. They had no one else already on the 40 man and tomorrow will probably be a bullpen day. He goes back down after the game.
Lol, ‘better sign Bauer’. Are you kiddin me – last I saw Reinsdorf is still the owner. I believe the White Sox are still trying to complete the details to sign Barry Bonds. They get in, for one reason – publicity.
I guarantee they will get in the bidding, as they do for most ‘name’ FA. But their best offer will come up ‘just short’ – hello Manny Machado. Of course they did get Yasmani – ha ha ha. What a waste.
Such a waste. He only has the 3rd highest fWAR amongst catchers and an .815 OPS this year (.893 after the first 5 games). What a terrible signing.
Must be miserable for you watching a team full of below average hitters. At least you have Happ, Heyward, and Kipnis to save the day. You should be thankful your team plays in the worst division in baseball.
Grandal just might be the worst receiver in all of baseball. McCann is a better overall catcher than him, and now that Grandals under contract for 3 more years at $18/per – they can’t move him.
About a week ago with runners on 2nd and 3rd, Grandal missed 2 of the next 3 pitches and both runners scored.
I saw. And yet he’s still a top 3 catcher in baseball every single year. Funny how that works. It’s almost like a couple bad plays every once in a while don’t outweigh everything else he does on a nightly basis. They aren’t interested in moving him; he has done EXACTLY what he was paid to do.
Scrubs fan has a point McCann is a better overall catcher right now. Hitting, has a better relationship with Giolito. Was our allstar, it’s comes off as disrespect 2 sign a higher paid backstop. Especially 1 that can’t hit his own weight. $ could have been used on a starter
He might be top 3 in YOUR mind. He’s not even the best catcher on the Sox. If he was top 3, he’d be catching much more often. What are they saving him for, lol. They wish they never signed him, because they now won’t be able to sign McCann.
Javier Baez is batting like .196. He was a one year wonder. Now that he is back down to earth. What do the scrubs do with him. They need pitching bad. I think they should trade Baez for Reynaldo Lopez and Gonzalez. He would be a nice utility player for the White sox
You’re right. He’s top 3 in my mind. Fangraphs must not be a thing in the real world. My fault.
Enjoy watching your team of overrated underachievers.
I love McCann. I want them to pay him to be the personal catcher to Giolito and one of Cease/Dunning/Kopech. I want him to DH and/or play 1B on most of his days off from catching. That being said, he has never been as good as Grandal statistically over the course of a season.
Grandal was a great signing. “Can’t hit his weight” is ridiculously dumb. After his first 5 games this year, he’s slashing .277/.388/.505 for an OPS of .893 in 121 plate appearances. That’s unbelievably good for anyone, let alone a catcher. Even including his slow start, he still has an .815 OPS, which is still top notch for a catcher. Having 2 catchers playing great is NOT even close to an issue when you also have a DH position.
Baez sucks. We have Yolmer!
He is listed @ 230 his career BA is .241, that is Not hitting your weight. Mcann .273 last year, .319 now. Both better than Grandal will ever hit. Big time waste. Start the allstar. .246/28/77 Grandals’ best season. Please stop. 18.25 mil, gross. Yes every team needs a backup, but not him. Again $ better spent on a starter
Are you serious? Grandal JS easily one of the better catchers in baseball. It’s embarrassing to suggest otherwise.
His BA is down to .237 this season. 241 career. Not 1 of da best by far. Not even on da Sox is he best. Did I miss something about baseball last decade ¿ .241 career would garner most waivers. Not 18.25 per
You remind me of a geek that goes to Comic-Con and points out all the flaws of a great movie. Get back to your moms basement. Don’t worry, she’ll holler when your hot pocket is a ready.
He’s back to start a game… Keuchel is out this week and they’re already planning on a bullpen day tomorrow. Someone needs to pitch; might as well give him a shot vs the Tigers.
Lopez 3-hitter through 5 innings and 8-0 lead!!
Still going strong…
Sometimes when your back is against the wall, you shine!
That’s why Lopez in there tonight!
Bullpen saver!
Abreu and Anderson co-MVP’s!!!
This will be one of the most exciting teams for the next decade!
Unstoppable White Sox once injuries behind them!!
Brian Cashman says good luck with that.
Is this before or after he spends $200M and then relies on band aids and dumpster diving to fill in holes?
Brian who?
Which part? The unstoppable part or the putting injuries behind them part?
2005 all over again!!!
Seeing Aaron get injured was a real bummer.
That Dylan never ceases to amaze either.
Ohhh, Aaron Bummer!
Hopefully the White Sox can remain healthy over their final 16 regular season games with both Aaron Bummer and Carlos Rodon contributing down the stretch and deep into the postseason. Perhaps even Yoan Moncada will be at full strength as he continues to deal with the aftermath of his COVID-19 infection during the team’s intake process that has sapped his energy and effected his production throughout the season. Moncada at 100% along with two healthy southpaws in their bullpen could make the White Sox a very formidable contender for the 2020 World Series title.
Mercy.
78.6 groundball percentage and 14.7 K/9.
I couldn’t do that on PlayStation.
He’s key to them making a deep run. If he can get back to full health before the playoffs, that’d be huge. I’d also love for Rodon to be put in the bullpen if/when he returns so they can have another lefty with potential to shut teams down. Plus, it’d move Fry to mop up duty, where he belongs.
Should have pushed harder for Lynn. He is an old school bearded badass starter.
Pushed harder? Lynn’s not worth giving up the young talent they’d have to give up. The entire league is drooling over the Sox’s roster right now, which makes an equitable trade impossible. They need one more good offseason to make a historic run at multiple championship runs the next five years.
Yes. I’d rather the White Sox supplement this mostly young core with FA’s over trading top young prospects unless it involves redundant assets…aside from Andrew Vaughn, Michael Kopech and their most recent top SP June Draft picks. Nick Madrigal is also off-limits and likely to lose his prospect/rookie status assuming he can remain healthy during the final 16 games.
I’d imagine they were asking for at least 1 of Kopech/Dunning/Vaughn or someone off the major league roster. If that’s the case, they absolutely made the right call.
How about that Dunning guy?
Cy Young award next year for sure!
I wrote off Kopech-
Sad but true, if they win it this year, it’s his only hope.
I they fall BC of pitching, he’ll be brought up immediately in conversation.
He won’t be able to handle that. He can’t handle much.
Why oh why would a early 20’s millionaire get married to a road-HO?
Jeter did it correctly.
Kopech has a rocket launcher connected to a big wheel, too bad