White Sox 'concerned' after Rodon makes early exit with more soreness

In an attempt to avoid predicted heavy rain Tuesday in Detroit, the White Sox's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park has been moved up from 5:40 p.m. Chicago time to 12:10 p.m.

With a win over Detroit and an Indians loss to the Royals Tuesday night, the Sox would clinch first place in the AL Central.

A celebration is undoubtedly coming soon, but there was a funereal feel following Monday night's 4-3 loss to the Tigers.

While they still managed to reduce their magic number from 4 to 2, the White Sox couldn't hold a 3-0 early lead and Detroit snapped a 3-3 tie when reliever Craig Kimbrel unraveled with two outs in the eighth inning.

Kimbrel hit Robbie Grossman on the foot with a pitch, seemingly a harmless miscue. But after Grossman stole second base on a wild pitch, Harold Castro's RBI single decided the outcome.

It was another erratic effort from Kimbrel in the eighth, but much worse news came after the game ended.

Manager Tony La Russa said injury-prone Carlos Rodon, who started against the Tigers and lasted only 3 innings, is dealing with soreness again.

Rodon has been experiencing shoulder discomfort throughout the second half of the season.

"The first two innings, we were all encouraged," La Russa said. "He threw the ball well. In the third, he lost command, he was struggling. Actually, fortunate to leave (the third inning) with 3 runs. He came back in and said he wasn't right, soreness. So we're concerned."

There is room on the remaining schedule to get Rodon one more start next week before the playoffs begin, but La Russa is not optimistic.

"If you ask for a seat of the pants opinion, I don't see how he'll pitch next week," La Russa said. "But maybe it's one of those things where he starts feeling better, I don't know. You prepare for the worst, hope for the best. It's a tired cliche, but it's exactly what we're going to do."

Rodon declined to talk about his health after the game, saying: "It's just normal soreness, nothing crazy."

The Sox's left-hander got three quick outs in the first inning on 11 pitches and struck out the side in the second.

In the third inning, he gave up 3 runs (2 earned) on 2 hits, a walk and error by second baseman Cesar Hernandez. Rodon was done for the night after throwing 69 pitches.

"You get in the third, my team puts up 3 runs," Rodon said. "Just disappointed in myself to go out there and give up 3 runs when they put up 3 runs for me. That's a shutdown inning and that's on me, so honestly it's pretty (crappy)."