Anderson gets partial day off during long stretch

PITTSBURGH -- White Sox manager Rick Renteria wrote out a new lineup before Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Pirates, one that did not have shortstop Tim Anderson's name on it. After 38 straight starts, Anderson got was not in the starting lineup for the first time this season.
"We were talking about it [Tuesday] night," Renteria said before the finale against the Pirates at PNC Park. "I think we've given everybody at least a day. Thought today would be a good day [to give Tim a rest]."
Wednesday's game was the second day of a 16-day stretch without a day off for the White Sox.
"I think this is the perfect day to do it," Renteria said of resting Anderson. "I believe that a player on a natural day off doesn't benefit as much as when he does when I don't start him on a regular day. I think they're able to be relaxed, and observe and watch things and pick things up. I think they'll start to refocus, especially in a National League game. [By] the fourth or fifth inning, maybe they start gearing up a little bit for the possibility of being used.
"But at this point, he can be relaxed, just watch the game," Renteria said. "Watch everybody perform, kind of take it in a little bit. You're still engaged, but not so intently. Relieves a little bit of the tension, I think, and allows you to gain some insight and maybe grow."
Anderson did pinch-hit to lead off the ninth, but he flew out on the first pitch. Yolmer Sánchez, the regular third baseman, started his first game of the season at shortstop. It was Sanchez's ninth start at the position since he was a rookie in 2014. He played mostly at second base in '17.
Sanchez played well, hitting a fifth-inning home run that tied the game at 2, and he also made a nice over-the-shoulder catch chasing a fly ball into the outfield.
Matt Davidson, having a stellar year at the plate (.966 OPS) primarily as the designated hitter, started at third base in place of Sanchez. Davidson did not play in Tuesday's 7-0 loss. He went 0-for-4 on Wednesday, stranding a pair of runners in the first inning and striking out twice.