Robert likely out a week after landing on COVID-19 list

Luis Robert, who was leading the White Sox with 6 home runs while ranking second with a .285 batting average and 17 RBI heading into Tuesday's play, has been placed on the COVID-19 related injured.

The center fielder is likely to be sidelined until next Tuesday, when the Sox open a three-game series against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

"Unfortunately, he is suffering from mild COVID symptoms," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "The good news is he is vaccinated so hopefully his experience is relatively mild throughout and we have him back at some point very possibly next week."

Robert is definitely going to miss the current three-game series against the Red Sox and he's not expected to play Saturday or Sunday when the Cubs visit Guaranteed Rate Field.

Lynn, Jimenez updates:

Before Tuesday's game against the Red Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, injured starting pitcher Lance Lynn was throwing live batting practice and injured left fielder Eloy Jimenez was one of the hitters.

By the end of the week, Lynn and Jimenez could be teammates with Class AAA Charlotte on rehab assignments.

Lynn had surgery on April 5 to repair a tendon tear in his right knee. Jimenez had a similar procedure on April 26.

Instant impact:

After joining the White Sox last week, Johnny Cueto made his first two starts on the road and combined to pitch 12 scoreless innings against the Royals and Yankees.

Cueto's next scheduled start is Saturday, against the Cubs at Guaranteed Rate Field.

"He's been sensational," Sox general manager Rick Hahn said of the 36-year-old right-hander. "It's been fun to watch him pitch, the way he disrupts timing, the way he shows different arm angles. The whole thing is entertaining, not just because of the zeros but because of the show he puts on each start."

Before the White Sox took batting practice Tuesday afternoon, Cueto was running steps in the upper deck.

"That is also part of the Johnny Cueto experience," Hahn said. "He's an intense competitor, obviously a very intelligent pitcher from what you've seen on the field. But in the clubhouse and in the training room, he is all business. For those three hours, you may get some chuckles along the way from how he's messing with hitters, but it's all part of a larger plan and maintenance program that he takes extremely seriously."

Walks off:

Heading into Tuesday, the White Sox were last in the major leagues in walks (90) and near the bottom in on-base percentage (.290).

"That's not us," GM Rick Hahn said. "I think that's going to normalize over the course of the season. We've had a precipitous drop in our walk rate. The players haven't changed that dramatically. If anything, the level of maturity, you would expect that to improve and I think over the course of the summer that'll get better."

Burger up:

With Luis Robert going on the COVID-19 list, Jake Burger was recalled from Class AAA Charlotte to take his roster spot.

Burger hit .239/.276/.352 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI in 21 games with the Sox before being optioned to Charlotte on May 9.