White Sox's Renteria tests negative, expected to rejoin team Tuesday
Rick Renteria is with the White Sox in Cleveland, but he wasn't going to be managing Monday night's game against the Indians before it was postponed by rain.
The Sox and Indians will play a doubleheader Tuesday, with Game 1 starting at 2:40 p.m.
“Manager Ricky Renteria awoke this morning with a slight cough and nasal congestion,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. “After consulting with our team doctors, Ricky underwent precautionary testing today at a Cleveland hospital. Out of an abundance of caution, Ricky will remain at the team hotel and not manage until we receive confirmation of today's test result. Bench coach Joe McEwing will manage the White Sox during Ricky's absence.”
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Renteria's test results were negative and he is expected to be in the Sox's dugout Tuesday.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada missed the first two weeks of summer training camp while recovering from the coronavirus. He did not talk to Renteria before Monday's news broke.
“I hope he's doing well,” Moncada said through a translator. “I wish him the best."
Moncada said the White Sox are taking COVID-19 seriously.
“Everybody's following the protocols,” he said. “They know that this is something that's very serious. This coronavirus stuff, it's not something to mess around with. Everybody's taking the most precautions they can. I can say for myself, it's a very, very serious thing."
It was a tough day around Major League Baseball, with the Miami Marlins postponing their home game against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night after multiple players and staff members tested positive for coronavirus.
The New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies game also was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.
“Your thoughts and your prayers go out to everybody involved,” McEwing said. “Hopefully, they're healthy. We're just focusing on what we're doing, taking the correct measures to keep everyone as safe as we possibly can. As an organization and training staff, we've done a pretty good job so far.”
In Tuesday's straight doubleheader against Cleveland, Dylan Cease makes his first start of the season in Game 1, opposing the Indians' Aaron Civale. Carlos Rodon takes the mound for the White Sox in Game 2, opposing Adam Plutko.
Injury update:
Reynaldo Lopez, who exited Sunday's start against the Minnesota Twins with two outs in the first inning, was placed on the 10-day injured list with right-shoulder soreness.
“He had an MRI today in Chicago and it showed inflammation in his shoulder,” acting manager Joe McEwing said. “Hopefully, we got him under some medication and the inflammation within the 10 days will resolve. As of right now, Gio Gonzalez is slotted into that rotation spot.”
Eloy Jimenez also left Sunday's loss to the Twins early after running into the left-field fence.
“We are monitoring him under a protocol,” McEwing said. “It's not that he's necessarily in that concussion protocol. We are just taking the correct measures to monitor with him the next couple of days to see where he's at. Day to day.”
Kopech report:
According to the Chicago Tribune, Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech has filed for divorce from actress Vanessa Morgan (“Riverdale”), who is expecting a baby boy in January.
The couple was married last January.
Kopech, who missed all of last year recovering from Tommy John surgery, opted out of the current season on July 10.