CHICAGO -- The White Sox could be getting pitching assistance for the 2020 season stretch drive with Carlos Rodón and Aaron Bummer working their way back from injury.

Bummer, one of the more valuable relievers in the American League, has been on the 10-day injured list with a left biceps strain but has been dealing more with a nerve issue near the muscle of late. General manager Rick Hahn spoke of his progress during an extended Zoom on Friday, adding the left-hander could join the team at some point during the season’s last road trip, Sept. 18-24, in Cincinnati and Cleveland.

“He continues to progress, actually,” Hahn said. “We had him on a deliberate slow-build throwing program: One that would conceivably bring him back for the final stretch of the season here, the last week of the season or so. And thus far, he’s hit every milestone.”

Rodón, who has been out of action due to left shoulder soreness, recently had a 60-pitch outing scratched at the team’s alternate training facility in Schaumburg, Ill., because of back discomfort described by Hahn as inflammation in the back/ribcage area. Rodón was treated for the issue and is scheduled to throw off the mound again Monday.

“Obviously, time is starting to get a little bit short in terms of bringing him back, certainly as a starter,” said Hahn of Rodón, who originally was placed on the injured list with left shoulder soreness. “But we are still optimistic that at some point over the course of the next couple of weeks, we will be able to have him back in some capacity.”

Hahn added Rodón could be moved to the 45-day injured list, much as Bummer was, but it won’t change his return timeline. Day 45 for Rodón is Thursday, and the White Sox don’t expect him back before then.

“You just want to make sure they're healthy and capable of helping us. Right now they're progressing well,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “We'll just continue to watch them, continue to knock on wood here to make sure they're staying healthy and then we'll deal with their eventual return. Hopefully, we'll be able to deal with a lot of good problems as we move forward.”

Playoff rotation a consideration ... soon
There will be a point in the final 17 games of the regular season where the White Sox prioritize the playoff rotation over the immediate games in front of them. Their postseason seeding won’t matter much if they aren’t correctly aligned, with Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel at the top.

But with a magic number of 11 entering Friday, that realignment will have to wait a bit.

“We aren’t going to pivot to that prior to clinching a spot,” Hahn said. “But after we do, we will have to some conversations about ... the best use of our starters going forward in order to put us in the best position to succeed in the postseason. Obviously, we want to do everything in our power to win the division.”

Third to first
• Keuchel’s next start is targeted for Thursday afternoon in the finale of a four-game series against the Twins at home. But the White Sox first have to see how Keuchel’s back responds, a malady that landed him on the injured list retroactive to Sept. 7.

• Thursday’s final off-day day of the season for the White Sox allowed Yoán Moncada a two-day respite with the third baseman out of the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Tigers.

“It does give him a little boost,” said Renteria of Moncada, who tested positive for COVID-19 during the intake process and has been dealing with leg soreness all season. “You guys have noticed a little bit in his step, the way he's been able to get out of the box, things of that nature, especially the last few games. Hopefully, this will continue to build him up and get him where he's supposed to be.”

• Renteria is still going with TBA as a starter for Sunday, wanting to get through the next two games before making a decision.