CHICAGO -- White Sox lefty Carlos Rodón didn’t even let the questioner finish before answering about wanting to start Sunday night’s Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“Oh, yeah,” said Rodón as he sat in Chicago's dugout following Saturday's off-day workout. “My job is to go out there and throw the ball, and whenever my name is called, I’m going to do that. Tony [La Russa]’s job is to set the roster and put the guys out there, and I have all the trust in him.”

The somewhat bad news for Rodón is that he'll have to wait and see if the White Sox can stave off postseason elimination, as they enter their first home playoff contest in 15 years down 2-0 to the Astros with Dylan Cease on the mound. The better news is that Rodón feels good and seems ready to take the ball in Game 4.

Rodón has battled through shoulder soreness and fatigue, limiting him to two starts since Sept. 10 and no start of more than five innings or 89 pitches since July 18. On that night, Rodón struck out 10 at home against Houston and held the Astros to one hit over seven innings.

There was some doubt if Rodón would even be part of the playoff roster, or if he would be able to contribute if he was. Rodón understood the White Sox thought process for arguably their top starter, who posted a 2.37 ERA and 185 strikeouts over 132 2/3 innings. Rodón pitched 42 1/3 innings combined over the previous two seasons.

“It was a kind of a thing where if I felt good enough to pitch, and obviously I do feel good enough to pitch. If I did, I was going to be on the roster,” Rodón said. “I totally understand the other aspect. You got a guy who can’t perform, then obviously you need someone who can perform.

“So it makes sense. Fortunately, I feel good enough to go out there and throw the ball. Just looking forward to watching Dylan Cease work [on Sunday].”

Kimbrel for the eighth
La Russa elaborated on his postgame comment Friday that Craig Kimbrel was in an unfamiliar role working before the ninth inning. The 33-year-old with 372 career saves allowed a two-run double to Carlos Correa and a two-run homer to Kyle Tucker during a five-run seventh in Friday’s 9-4 loss, entering with two runners on and one out -- unfamiliar territory for the career closer.

“Coming in here in a different role is a heck of an adjustment for the guy. He has Hall of Fame credentials, and that's what I mean,” La Russa said. “He is having to pitch the eighth inning, and there is a difference when those three outs you are targeting, you are trying to get to end the game. And you usually don't bring your closer in in the middle of an inning unless the outs that he gets are going to end it.

“That's what I meant. It's a heck of a mental adjustment. I know he would never make any excuses. That's why I'm just giving my explanation of why -- how hard it is for him.”

La Russa didn’t intend to make any bullpen changes, not with Liam Hendriks producing statistics as the game’s top closer this season with 38 saves and 113 strikeouts against seven walks in 71 innings.

“He will get the lead. He [has] pitched in the eighth,” La Russa said of Kimbrel. “I hope that we have the kind of situation where we have them the majority of the time -- that we get the outs, and can save the guy for the role that suits him.”