Postponed game gives injury-plagued Sox a break
It wasn't snowing in Kansas City Friday like it was on Thursday, forcing the Royals-Tampa Bay Rays game at Kauffman Stadium to be postponed in the fourth inning.
“It was an ill-conceived idea from the beginning,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said afterward. “It didn't look good from jump street
Rather than risk a similar situation Friday with a cold rain falling, the Royals called the game well in advance of the scheduled 7:10 p.m. start.
The White Sox and K.C. will make up the game Monday at 1:10 p.m.
All things considered, the weather-related break in the schedule is actually a break for the Sox.
The injury bug has been divebombing the Sox all season, so Friday's day off gives Jake Peavy some extra time to recover from back spasms.
Peavy had to miss Thursday's scheduled start at Texas with the ailment, but he was feeling better the day after and might be able to pitch Monday's makeup game.
“I feel better,” Peavy told reporters in Kansas City Friday. “It's still there, it's just not completely gone, but I did make a whole lot of progress in the 24-hour period. We continue to treat it, (I) got a massage therapist in here today and got some good work, about to have more work, so hopefully continue on this path and get out there the next few days.”
The news on Gavin Floyd isn't nearly as positive.
On Thursday, the Sox announced Floyd has a tear in the flexor muscle near his right elbow and an unstable ulnar collateral ligament.
Season-ending Tommy John surgery is a definite possibility, but Floyd told reporters he wants to get one more medical opinion before making a decision.
Even if he manages to avoid reconstructive elbow surgery, Floyd is going to be sidelined indefinitely.
Hector Santiago, who was moved from the bullpen to rotation to take Floyd's spot, wound up filling in for Peavy Thursday. The left-hander was nothing short of brilliant, pitching 5 innings and allowing 1 run on 2 hits in the White Sox' 3-1 win over the Rangers.
Santiago is going to remain in the starting five, but he could be heading back to the bullpen soon if John Danks continues to improve.
Danks hasn't pitched in nearly a year, and the left-hander is now nine months removed from shoulder surgery.
But Danks was very encouraged by his performance with Class AA Birmingham Thursday night.
Making his first minor-league rehab start after spending April at extended spring training in Arizona, Danks pitched 7 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits.
Danks also hit 91 mph with his fastball, and he'll make his next rehab start with Class AAA Charlotte on Tuesday.
“I'm not far off,” Danks told reporters in Kansas City. “I think I need just one or two more starts. I can't wait to get back.”
The White Sox feel the same way, but they have been extra cautious with Danks since the start of spring training and they're going to make sure he's 100 percent before activating Danks off the DL.
“I had heard about Jake,” Danks said. “The news on Gavin bums me out. But this whole time my focus has been on coming back and not come back when I knew I wasn't ready. I want to come back when I know I can get big-league hitters out.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com