Cease to return Saturday; DH set for Sunday

Dylan Cease will take the mound for the White Sox on Saturday afternoon against the Red Sox, with a first pitch of 3:05 p.m. CT, after Friday night’s scheduled series opener at Fenway Park was postponed due to winter-like conditions.

The forecast in the Fenway Park area called for a continued period of snow and rain into the evening. Cease was reinstated from the injured list Friday following a series of negative COVID-19 tests, and the White Sox optioned right-hander Zack Burdi to the alternate training site in Schaumburg, Ill.

Cease was put on the injured list Wednesday for precautionary reasons, with Burdi being recalled. Cease tested negative for COVID-19 but was experiencing symptoms at the time.

“He's vastly improved, and I think he's just starting to get really comfortable with himself and starting to figure out who he is as a pitcher,” White Sox starter Carlos Rodón said of Cease. “I think he'll be a real treat to watch here in the next couple months. I'd love to see what he can do.”

Friday’s postponement was rescheduled as the second game of a split doubleheader on Sunday at 4:10 p.m. CT. Sunday’s regularly scheduled game remains at 12:10 p.m. CT.

Dallas Keuchel will take the mound for one of Sunday's games for the White Sox, with the order and the second starter to be confirmed Saturday. Lucas Giolito gets the Monday morning start for the White Sox in Boston on Patriots' Day, with a first pitch of 10:10 a.m. CT, meaning Rodón will have an extra day of rest after his 114-pitch no-hitter thrown at home against the Indians on Wednesday. His next start should be against Cleveland at Progressive Field.