Rehab still 3-4 weeks away for Danks
The White Sox still have a Danks on the 25-man roster.
Unfortunately, it is Jordan, a reserve outfielder who has been with the Sox less than two weeks.
As for John Danks, who signed a five-year, $65 million contract extension in December and was expected to be the Sox’ ace starter, his stay on the disabled list has been extended.
Danks hasn’t pitched since May 19, and the left-hander has been officially diagnosed with a mild Grade 1 strain of the subscapularis muscle in his shoulder.
According to the White Sox, Danks has no ligament or tendon damage and his labrum is intact.
Danks is scheduled to start a strengthening program Friday, but he’s not expected to be ready for a rehab pitching assignment for 3-4 weeks.
“I guess it’s better news than it could have been,” said Danks, who is 3-4 with a 5.70 ERA in 9 starts. “I’ll deal with it and try to come back strong and help us win ballgames when I’m healthy.”
If Danks can return by Aug. 1, the Sox could have themselves a fresh arm for the stretch run.
“There’s enough down time that you have to start looking at silver linings,” Danks said. “In a perfect world, none of this would have happened. I would have been having a good year and we would still be in first (place). But it is what it is.
“So hopefully I do come back and I can be the guy to help anchor the staff when these guys start running out of gas. The other four guys certainly picked me up before I got hurt.”
Stewart shipped out:After making a spot start against the Cubs on Monday night and allowing 6 runs on 9 hits (4 home runs) in 5 innings, Zach Stewart was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte before Tuesday#146;s game.Stewart was 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in 18 games.Dylan Axelrod is back for his second tour with the White Sox this season.The right-hander was on the 25-man roster from April 27-May 5 and went 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 3 games (1 start).Axelrod was 5-4 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 starts with Charlotte. He is expected to replace Stewart as the Sox#146; long reliever.Who#146;s on third?Orlando Hudson took a .176 batting average into Tuesday night#146;s game, and his diminished bat speed was particularly noticeable when he popped out to Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro with the bases loaded and one out in the second inning.Manager Robin Ventura said Hudson is going to remain the White Sox#146; regular third baseman for the foreseeable future.#147;Where we#146;re at right now, Brent (Morel#146;s) not there, we#146;re going to try to make it go with Orlando,#148; Ventura said. #147;He#146;s learning on the job, really, how to play third. Offensively he#146;s had tough at-bats, but the energy level and all that stuff has been good for us. Everybody can pinpoint little areas they#146;d like to improve, but it has to improve with what we#146;ve got. It#146;s not coming from anywhere else.#148;