Robert shut down; Kopech, TA could be next

CHICAGO -- Luis Robert was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left wrist prior to Saturday’s contest with the Tigers, ending the season for the White Sox center fielder.

A few hours later, the White Sox came closer to this disappointing campaign officially reaching an end with a 7-2 loss at Guaranteed Rate Field. The White Sox fell back to .500 at 76-76 and could be knocked out of American League Central contention with a Cleveland win Sunday or if they get swept. Their Wild Card elimination number checks in at four.

“They've been playing good baseball, so take your hat off and give it to them,” designated hitter Eloy Jiménez said of the Guardians after homering Saturday. “It's tough but you need to take your hat off and take that until next year."

“No one likes losing. I don’t like losing,” said acting manager Miguel Cairo, who will run the team for the remainder of the season with the White Sox announcing Tony La Russa’s ongoing absence due to medical reasons Saturday. “Some of the guys are a little, hanging in there, but … they got to play. And we got to continue playing hard. They want to play, too. It’s not like they don’t want to. They want to play.”

Robert, 25, sprained his left wrist sliding into second base during a home game against the Tigers on Aug. 12 but was showing gradual improvement until he was hit by a pitch from Logan Gilbert during a loss in Seattle on Sept. 6. He finished the season with a .284 average, 18 doubles, 12 home runs, 56 RBIs and 54 runs scored in 98 games.

“Given the fact the discomfort seems to be persisting, I think you’ve all seen it as various at-bats and games have gone on, and the way games have played out the past week, we feel it’s better just to shut him down,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “Get him completely healthy.”

Since Aug. 25, Robert was 1-for-28 with nine strikeouts, and he was often seen swinging one-handed due to the lingering discomfort.

“Unfortunately, I think the hit by pitch was a real factor,” Hahn said of Robert. “Given that it was what we were originally dealing with - a sprain and wrist - and repetitive use was going to be a challenge over time while you’re ramping back up.

“So, it’s conceivable had he not been hit by a pitch, it would have started barking at some point, but certainly getting hit accelerated the pain response in that area. It is something over the passage of time, should resolve itself and we don’t foresee any issues come next spring.”

Right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech, who was placed on the injured list last Saturday with right shoulder inflammation, is recovering well, according to Hahn. But with Kopech already at a Major League career-high 119 1/3 innings and needing to have a baker’s cyst resolved on his left knee, the White Sox could have that procedure scheduled soon and send Kopech healthy into the offseason.

Shortstop Tim Anderson also is a possibility to be shut down. Anderson has been working his way back from surgery to repair a tear within his left middle finger suffered while checking his swing on Aug. 6 in Texas. The original prognosis was for a six-week return, but Hahn said it was 6-to-8 weeks at the outset and these extra two weeks might also lead to greater recovery for Anderson.

“It’s really a question of does it make sense at this point in the year to try to rush into that two-week window,” Hahn said, “or let nature take its course and send him into the offseason fully healed.”

Rookie Davis Martin, who has been an unexpected bright spot for this team, allowed three runs over six innings Saturday during his second start in place of Kopech. Gavin Sheets also went deep, but the winless homestand reached a stunning -- but not unexpected -- five straight games. It’s been that kind of year for the White Sox.

“There are 10 more games and you have to challenge yourself to go out there and do your job and perform,” Cairo said. “Try to win. Not try. You want to win. I don’t like trying. There’s no trying in baseball. You do it, or you don’t do it.”