White Sox hoping Kopech can return to mound this weekend

When he slammed the baseball to the ground and headed off the field after his Sunday start against the Rangers was cut short with two outs in the first inning, it looked like White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech was going to be sidelined for an extended stretch of games with a knee injury.

"I felt a twinge, pinch or pop or whatever you want to call it," Kopech said. "I felt like I couldn't get on it again. It sounds like it felt worse than what it was."

Kopech had fluid drained from his right knee on Monday and Sox manager Tony La Russa said there's hope he can be back on the mound this weekend in Houston.

"He'll throw a bullpen and decide if he can pitch this weekend," La Russa told reporters in Detroit Monday. "(Sunday), I thought he was done. Then when the game was over he said, 'Wait a minute, there may be a chance.' Now based on him realizing once it drained fluid, what caused the problem, we're slightly optimistic."

After missing the 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, opting out in 2020 and primarily pitching out of the bullpen last year, Kopech is 2-2 with a 1.92 ERA in 11 starts this season.

Grandal to IL:

After leaving Saturday's game against Texas with left hamstring tightness, catcher Yasmani Grandal was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with lower back spasms.

"It ends up being more of a lower back spasm and that's what's making everything else tight, which is probably the reason why the hamstring pulled," Grandal said Monday. "We decided it was best to go on the 10-day just to get everything cleared out and that way by the time I come back, it's full go. We won't know how long it's going to take, but if it takes five days maybe I'm able to go (on a rehab assignment at Class AAA) Charlotte and start getting at-bats and catching down there."

Seby Zavala, who had his contract purchased from Charlotte Sunday, is the Sox's backup catcher behind Reese McGuire.

Roster subtraction:

The White Sox requested waivers on relief pitcher Ryan Burr for the purpose of granting his unconditional release.

Optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on May 20, Burr was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 8 relief appearances with the Sox this season.