Sox eye Sept. 29 start to 'evaluate' Rodón

CHICAGO -- The White Sox are targeting a Sept. 29 start at home against the Reds for Carlos Rodón after the southpaw departed Monday’s 4-3 loss following three innings, 69 pitches and not feeling right, per manager Tony La Russa’s postgame comments.

“His comments after the game [were] he was tired, but he also said he was sore and he was sore this morning,” said La Russa prior to Tuesday afternoon’s contest. “Hopefully it's just normal soreness, and we'll do a bunch of stuff to get him ready and keep our fingers crossed that [next Wednesday] he's good to go.”

Rodón has been one of the team’s most valuable pitchers this season, boasting a 12-5 record, 2.47 ERA and 181 strikeouts against 34 walks over 127 2/3 innings. But the left-hander has been battling through shoulder fatigue and soreness in his throwing arm; he has failed to work beyond the fifth or beyond 90 pitches in seven straight starts.

Having Rodón as part of the White Sox rotation quartet with Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito and Dylan Cease will be important to their postseason success. But La Russa still needs to see more on the field to determine where the southpaw stands.

“That's why he needs to go on the mound, just to evaluate that,” La Russa said. “We're assuming he can make one of the [playoff] spots, but yesterday was not a good day, so he's got another shot next [Wednesday]. We'll see if there's a better result so we can be more optimistic.

“We're definitely concerned. We've got a pattern we've established all year long to give him extra rest and it's really worked. He's taken the extra time to stay sharp and stay strong. That's why yesterday was a disappointment.”

After throwing 11 pitches in the first, Rodón threw 30 pitches in the second and then 28 in the third against the Tigers. His four-season fastball velocity was down from this year’s average, per Statcast.

“When you lack overall command, it explains part of why it was such an effort,” La Russa said. “Hesitation's a good word, we're not assuming anything. Just try to do as much as you can and be optimistic it will work out. If not, we'll make an adjustment.”

Tepera making progress
Ryan Tepera hopes to throw a bullpen session while the White Sox are in Cleveland this weekend and then get on the mound once against the Reds and twice against the Tigers in the final week of the season to test his lacerated right index finger. Tepera suffered the injury in a freak household accident where he caught it on a door; he still had the injured area wrapped Tuesday when he talked to the media.

“Today was probably the first day I’ve really been able to kind of let it go,” Tepera said. “The cut is sealed up. The little piece of skin flap was sealed down. So we didn’t have to cut that off, which is a good thing.

“It’s more kind of like a little blood blister right now. It’s a little bit sensitive in that little spot where it jabbed me and where it went in deep. Progress is good. So I’m hoping the next couple of days probably, [I can] play catch without a wrap on and then possibly get off a mound in Cleveland.”

When Tepera was placed on the injured list, he was hoping to return within five to seven days. Now at the one-week mark, he still feels like he’s moving in the right direction.

“[The timeline] was a little quick from the very beginning,” Tepera said. “The cut was a little deeper, so it is what it is. I feel good about it, so that’s the main thing.”

He said it
“I’m glad the timing is working out the way it is so I can get into the feel and the speed of a big league game. I’m excited just to get back out there and play ball [for] one. But two, to help the team win going down the stretch here and hopefully hit my stride going into the postseason.” -- outfielder Adam Engel, who returned from the IL on Tuesday and was in the starting lineup