Chicago White Sox: Carlos Rodon Expected to Start Season on DL
The Chicago White Sox's already weak starting rotation took a hit to start the season.
On the same day the Chicago White Sox announced Jose Quintana as their Opening Day starter, they also announced that they expect Carlos Rodon to start the season on the DL due to left bicep tightness. An MRI on Friday showed no structural damage, but the White Sox will seek a second opinion next week.
Chicago's main goal this spring was to prepare Rodon so he could take the next step this season, especially with Chris Sale now in Boston. When healthy, Rodon is the No. 2 pitcher in their rotation and could become their ace if the White Sox find a trade partner for Quintana.
He only started one game in Spring Training, throwing four shutout innings, to keep him fresher for the regular season in hopes that he could eclipse 200 innings pitched in 2017.
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Last season, Rodon pitched 165 innings in 28 starts with a 4.04 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. The former first-round pick also struck out 168 batters, which has many in Chicago believing he's close to becoming the ace they imagined when drafting him in 2014. He's still a young pitcher, though, so Chicago has to take both the good and bad with him. His 9.164 K/9 was the seventh-best mark in the AL last season, but he also threw the fifth-most wild pitches (11).
With the White Sox not expected to rush Reynaldo Lopez or Lucas Giolito to the majors for a short stint at the start of the year, Rick Hahn mentioned three names that could possibly fill Rodon's void – Dylan Covey, Tyler Danish and David Holmberg.
None are extremely intriguing options, but it's expected from a team projected to finish last in the division with the most interesting part of their team in AAA. The White Sox being cautious about Rodon's injury, and not willing to bring up Lopez or Giolito for a short stint, is a sign that they're all-in for their current rebuild.
The White Sox open their season on April 3 against the Detroit Tigers.