Covey asserts himself into roster talk

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Be aggressive.
That mantra was carried by Dylan Covey into his outing against the American League champion Indians on Saturday, marking his third Cactus League start. Covey, who is a Rule 5 selection from Oakland needing to make the big league roster, had been pitching passively recently in his opinion.
"My last couple of outings I was definitely feeling the stress, pitching to not make a mistake instead of just going right after guys," said Covey, a top prospect by MLB.Pipeline.com. "So today and yesterday, I thought, 'I'm just going to throw every pitch with conviction and see what happens.' I got a lot of weak contact today and some swings and misses, so I felt good."
"He's putting a little pressure on himself," said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper before Covey's start. "He knows what's riding on it. If he does well, he has a chance to reach a dream that he's had since he was in third grade."
Cooper added that Covey needed to go out and have a "couple of good ones," and the right-hander took that first step. He hurled 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three in the Sox 10-7 victory over the Indians, and seems ready for any role the White Sox have in mind.
"Yeah, I mean I was trying to hit my spot, and even when I didn't hit my spot I was throwing everything with purpose behind it," Covey said. "So even if it didn't end up in the spot, it's amazing what pitching aggressive will do for you."
Who takes the fifth?
Carlos Rodón will get a second opinion Monday on tightness in the biceps tendon area of his left shoulder. The White Sox don't have to make a decision on Rodon until the news comes back, with Rodon having missed only one start and having worked up to four innings. But assuming the team errs on the side of caution and opens the season with Rodon on the disabled list, a few options exist for that fifth spot.

Covey stands as one candidate, although he has not worked over 3 2/3 innings and has not topped 60 pitches by his estimation. Right-hander Anthony Swarzak, a non-roster invite who has made a strong push to break camp with the team, has 32 career starts. The White Sox could use some combination of the two or look at the fifth starter as a bullpen day depending on the length of Rodon's absence.
With an off-day on April 4 following Opening Day, José Quintana could come back on regular rest to pitch April 8. The White Sox would not need a fifth starter until April 9 and then again April 15.
First week rotation set
While the fifth starter's spot remains an unknown, White Sox manager Rick Renteria announced the remainder of the front five on Saturday. Quintana gets his first career Opening Day start, followed by James Shields and Derek Holland in the Detroit series. Miguel González opens the weekend home series against the Twins on April 7.

Third to first
Danny Hayes is now tied for the White Sox Cactus League lead with 13 RBIs.
Nicky Delmonico and Cody Asche are tied for the team lead with four homers.