Sox shake up rotation ahead of road trip

CHICAGO – The White Sox made a switch in their rotation for Cincinnati, moving Dylan Cease to Tuesday and Dallas Keuchel to Wednesday.

Both hurlers will be working on regular rest, with Carlos Rodón pushed back to start the series opener in Kansas City Friday night followed by Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito.

“There are two things. One, Dallas is really a timing and finesse pitcher. And pitching him on seven days is not beneficial, especially coming off a game where he pitched well,” manager Tony La Russa said. “Carlos, if you check, he’s had extended rest for most of his starts.

“I don’t know if it’s helped him, but it hasn’t’ hurt him. That’s the biggest reason. I think it makes more sense to pitch Dallas regular and give Carlos rest.”

Rodón had a brilliant April with a 4-0 record and 0.72 ERA in four starts, including a no-hitter thrown at home against the Indians on April 14. He has worked on eight days' rest twice and on five days once after making his season debut in Seattle on April 5. It’s a consideration with Rodón’s past injury history, keeping him even stronger for the stretch drive over the final two months and into the postseason.

Kopech as great as expected
Michael Kopech has been dominant in his return to baseball, with 30 strikeouts, four walks, eight hits allowed and a 1.45 ERA over 18 2/3 innings and seven appearances (two starts). After last pitching in 2018, followed by Tommy John surgery and opting not to play in ’20, Kopech feels better than expected with the camaraderie of a great White Sox team. But this is the pitcher he always expected to be in the Majors.

“Short answer is yes. I’ve never really doubted my ability, sometimes I doubted my preparation,” Kopech said. “The past two years, I’ve had nothing but time to prepare so I feel like I’m prepared this year.

“Not doubting my ability and being prepared is a pretty good combo for being ready for whatever is going to be thrown at you. Yeah, I feel like this is who I always wanted to be out there. I’m just hoping that I can continue having some success, as long as I’m helping the team win.”

Lamb in, Mercedes out
Yermín Mercedes was scratched from Sunday’s starting lineup and replaced by Jake Lamb at designated hitter while La Russa was meeting with the media via Zoom. Mercedes was late for reporting time, per La Russa, in what La Russa deemed an explainable reason after his team’s 5-0 loss Sunday. But that tardiness was not the reason for the lineup change.

“I’m sure he’s got a reason why. I’m not upset with him,” La Russa said. “It was such a tough call.

“Lamb deserved the at-bats today, but I gave the edge to Mercedes because we just talked about if he doesn’t start today, it will be Friday in Kansas City. He’ll get the work in to come off the bench. My point is him being late is not an issue with me. He’s confident but he’s not comfortable yet.”

Third to first
• Patrice Stephens has been selected as the White Sox Honorary Bat Girl for 2021. Stephens, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday, has worked more than four decades as an advance practice nurse (APN), and as a breast cancer nurse navigator at Gilda’s Club Chicago for 21 years.

• Leury García had eight RBIs in his last 11 plate appearances entering Sunday.

• Yasmani Grandal tied a career high with four walks Saturday (also on Sept. 11, 2019, at Miami). He became the first White Sox catcher with four-plus walks in a game since Ron Karkovice drew four on April 13, 1994, against the Yankees.

They said it
“When you look at playoff teams, you kind of have a little bit of everything but you definitely have to have starters you can trust to do their thing. I think everyone's starting to find their flow. … That's what it's all about: following suit and being part of the process and being the next guy up and doing your job. That's where we're at." – Lance Lynn, on the rotation

“I had Rickey [Henderson], the story's been told. I had Dave Henderson, Eck. What Tim does is what they did. He's competing, and he's having fun competing. He doesn't walk around like, 'Look, it's all about me.' He walks around because he's hard at [work] trying to help the team win.” – Tony La Russa, on Tim Anderson