CHICAGO (670 The Score) – A rainout of Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Monday afternoon gave the White Sox the chance to adjust their pitching plan with an extra day of rest, but they’ll stick to their original approach.
The White Sox will start left-hander Carlos Rodon against the Astros in Game 4 on Tuesday, when first pitch is set for 1:07 p.m. CT. Houston leads 2-1 in the best-of-five series. The White Sox had the option of skipping Rodon – who has suffered from shoulder fatigue in recent weeks – in favor of right-hander Lance Lynn, who could’ve gone on a full four days rest with Game 4 pushed back a day. Instead, Lynn will be available out of the bullpen, manager Tony La Russa said.
La Russa added that reliever Michael Kopech won’t be available Tuesday after throwing 47 pitches in 2 1/3 innings of work Sunday.
“Lance was actually in spikes and uniform in the bullpen last night,” La Russa said in reference to the White Sox’s 12-6 win in Game 3 on Sunday. “You know, we always had Kopech as the guy, and we used him last night, so he wouldn't be today and wouldn't be available tomorrow. So I think it's – I think Lance would be a guy that – Lance Lynn, (Reynaldo) Lopez, Lance Lynn. Best case, Carlos gives us enough to where we just use the bullpen that showed up last night.”
Lynn started Game 1 last Thursday, while right-hander Lucas Giolito followed in Game 2 on Friday. They’ll be the two options for a potential winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday in Houston should the White Sox win Tuesday.
Of course, La Russa is only worried about Game 4, because that’s all that’s guaranteed.
“We're going to concentrate on Game 4,” La Russa said. “And if we can do it, we hope we can, and that game is over, then we'll look at Game 5, but what I said was that Lynn, it's more practical to have him be in the bullpen last night and tomorrow because he pitched a day earlier than – but as far as – we may have to use them all tomorrow. Who knows.”
The White Sox’s hope is that Rodon (2.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP in regular season) can give them a strong outing in Game 4, but the concern is that his velocity has dipped late in the season. With that in mind, La Russa was asked how big of a deal the first inning will be to evaluate Rodon.
“That's a good question because the answer is all the things that you evaluate every day, right, and that is – I mean, a guy could have his stuff and that day his arm has more life or less life,” La Russa said. “You know, you factor that in, and you factor in command.
“Velocity has been a big plus, and Carlos can go from 94, 95 to 98, 99 with command, but guys pitch effectively with 92 or 93 if you move the ball around and you have a breaking ball and changeup, so I think it would be better, more velocity he has, you know, the more – the better his chances are of getting a lineup like that out. Just – I mean, I have – he is saying that he feels better, and the way he explains it, I'm looking – I think we'll have more than he did that last game against Cincinnati (on Sept. 29, the last time he pitched), but let's wait and see, but if he has more or less, it's still going to be – if he has more and he is throwing in the middle of the plate, it's not better than if he had less and was hitting his spot, so it's – that's why it's pitching, not throwing.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.