Sox rotation showing serious signs of trouble
How fast can Carlos Rodon get to the White Sox?
As Andre Rienzo showed for the third straight start Friday night against the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., the Sox need at least one more arm in the rotation before they can start thinking about printing playoff tickets.
There are other holes, for sure, but the starting five could use a serious boost.
Chris Sale heads the rotation and, if he can stay healthy, the lean left-hander could be a multiple Cy Young Award winner.
Jose Quintana is a solid No. 2 starter and, based on his last three outings, John Danks appears to be fully functional following his 2012 shoulder surgery.
After that, it's a tossup.
Hector Noesi has been very good his last 2 starts (2 runs in 13⅓ innings), but the Sox are his third team this season.
Andre Rienzo is a much bigger concern, and the Brazilian right-hander was off his game again Friday against the Angels, allowing 7 runs on 9 hits and a walk in 3⅔ innings.
For the Angels, Kole Calhoun homered and drove in 3 runs and Albert Pujols also went deep.
Jered Weaver (7-4) won for the sixth time in 8 starts, allowing 2 runs, 5 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings. The all-star right-hander, pitching at home for the first time since his 2-hit, 2-1 victory against Houston on May 21, struck out nine and improved to 8-2 with a 1.70 ERA in 11 starts against the White Sox.
Alejandro De Aza got the White Sox on the board with a solo home run in the third inning off Jered Weaver, and Adam Dunn added an RBI single in the fifth.
In the ninth inning, Dunn blasted a 2-run homer, but the Angels held on to capture an 8-4 victory.
It's somewhat odd that the Sox' top three starters are left-handed, while Noesi and Rienzo throw from the right side.
Rodon is another lefty, and he could be ready to join the White Sox as a starter next year. That could potentially create a glaring imbalance, but the Sox can worry about that later. They're just happy to have Rodon, who was the No. 3 overall draft pick Thursday.
"You're seeing that we drafted a guy we felt was the best talent," manager Robin Ventura told reporters. "That gets you excited. As painful it is to know we got the third pick and how we got it, at least we get something out of it. Hopefully he'll be here soon and be here for a while."
The White Sox drafted high school pitcher Spencer Adams in the second round Thursday.
On Friday, they drafted seven collegiate players in eight picks, including three pitchers.
The Sox took Oregon State left-hander Jace Fry in the third round.