Sale (COVID-19) won't start against White Sox Sunday

So much for that dream pitching matchup Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Lance Lynn is still scheduled to start for the White Sox, but Chris Sale won't be on the mound for the Red Sox.

Before Friday night's game against Boston, Lynn (right knee inflammation) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

To clear a roster spot, starting pitcher Jimmy Lambert was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte. Lambert pitched 5 innings and allowed 1 run at Oakland Tuesday night to earn his first major-league win.

Sale, a star pitcher for the White Sox from 2010-16 before being traded to the Red Sox for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech and two other prospects, tested positive for COVID-19 Thursday and is likely out until Sept. 19.

Sale is the 12th Red Sox player to go on the COVID-19 injured list since Aug. 27.

"At this point, nothing shocks me, to be honest with you," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "On a daily basis, we go through our process and we just hope for good news. This is where we're at. It's unfortunate, but (Sale) will be back. He feels good. He actually feels great and hopefully he can come back right away when his 'X' amount of days are done."

In 5 starts this season since coming back from Tommy John surgery, Sale is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 25 innings.

Jimenez returns:

After missing two games with a right knee contusion, Eloy Jimenez was back in the White Sox's lineup Friday night at designated hitter.

Jimenez was hit by an Andrew Vaughn line drive Tuesday night at Oakland while sitting in the Sox's dugout.

"Our lineup looks better when he's in there, there's no doubt about it," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's going to run and he's going to feel it, it's going to hurt him. But it doesn't make it worse when he plays, it's not like you're pushing a hamstring."