White Sox 'optimistic' Rodon will be good to go in playoffs
The White Sox have until Thursday morning to set their playoff roster, and they're probably going to wait until the final minute to make a decision on Carlos Rodon.
If he was healthy, Rodon would be one of the Sox's first three starters in the American League Division Series against Houston.
With a 13-5 record, 2.37 ERA and 185 strikeouts over 132⅔ innings, the numbers are elite.
Rodon's throwing shoulder is not.
The left-hander has been dealing with soreness since the all-star break and pitched only 43 innings during the second half of the season.
In his last start, against the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 29, Rodon allowed only 1 hit over 5 scoreless innings, but his fastball velocity was way down at 90-91 mph.
The White Sox are hoping Rodon will be ready to go for the ALDS.
"We remain optimistic that he's going to be able to contribute over the course of the next month," general manager Rick Hahn said. "Obviously, given the amount of work that he has endured this season, the jump from the previous years, his strength and comfort and general level of soreness and fatigue is something we continue to monitor."
If the Sox wanted to roll with Rodon in a possible Game 4, they'd likely have Michael Kopech ready to go in long relief.
Needed rest:
The White Sox were off Monday, they'll work out at Guaranteed Rate Field on Tuesday before heading to Houston and will have one final tuneup at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday before playing Game 1 of the ALDS the following day.
It's a good break, especially for Jose Abreu.
"Pito (Abreu) is not going to hit for these three days, so that's a positive," said GM Rick Hahn half-jokingly.
Abreu was hit by 22 pitches during the regular season, the fifth-highest total in the major leagues.
Ending the season in a 3-for-19 slump, Abreu has been nursing a sore left elbow, a frequent target of errant pitches. The 2020 American League MVP also was held out Sunday.
"He had a little non-COVID illness," Hahn said. "It was good to get him a couple of days of rest, (Sunday) and today. He'll be back at it tomorrow at the workout. He'll be back at 100% by then. The extra days off here and there serve this team very well and will continue to the next few weeks."
Hendriks honored:
Sox closer Liam Hendriks was named American League Reliever of the Month for September/October, his second honor of the season.
Hendriks had 21 strikeouts and no walks in 13⅔ scoreless innings while going 8-for-8 in save opportunities.
For the season, the 32-year-old righty was 8-3 with a 2.54 ERA and 38 saves in 44 opportunities. In 71 innings, Hendriks had 113 strikeouts and only 7 walks.