Rodon cleared to rejoin White Sox, start vs. Blue Jays Thursday

Carlos Rodon is rested.

On Thursday afternoon at Toronto, it's time to see if the White Sox's all-star starting pitcher is ready to resume attacking hitters.

Rodon was placed on the 10-day injured list on Aug. 11, the day before he was scheduled to start against the Yankees in the "Field of Dreams" game at Dyersville, Iowa.

Shoulder fatigue sidelined Rodon, who is 9-5 with a 2.38 ERA to go with 160 strikeouts over 109⅔ innings in 19 starts.

How effective he is and how long Rodon is able to go against the Blue Jays remains to be seen.

"I think mostly it's going to be observing him," Sox manager Tony La Russa said. "If he's throwing the ball well and he's keeping his delivery together, you extend him a little farther the next inning. If all of the sudden, it's going to be the first time he's actually competing in a game and he may get fatigued early, they've got a tough lineup, I think you just watch. But he's not going to be throwing 100 pitches or something."

Given his injury history - Rodon had shoulder surgery in 2017 and Tommy John surgery two years later - the White Sox have kept a close eye on the 28-year-old lefty all season.

When he reported soreness after his last start, against the Cubs on Aug. 7, Rodon landed on the IL and has been closely monitored leading up to Thursday.

"He had to throw, throw his bullpen and see how he felt," La Russa said. "His arm strength and mechanics, command and then how he feels the day after. All the signs have been positive."