White Sox: Carlos Rodon Scratched From Start in 11-2 Loss to Indians
The White Sox scratched Carlos Rodon just before first pitch. Mike Pelfrey allowed seven runs in the 11-2 loss to Cleveland.
The Chicago White Sox thought they had Carlos Rodon on the bump in the series finale against Cleveland on Thursday. However, that wasn’t the case. The team scratched Rodon shortly before first pitch, giving way to Mike Pelfrey. Pelfrey would allow seven runs in four innings of work and the Indians completed the four-game sweep for their 15th consecutive win of the season.
Yolmer Sanchez and Jose Abreu each had solo home runs for the White Sox in the first inning. But that was all the offense they could muster against Cleveland ace Corey Kluber. Kluber dominated the game en route to his 15th win of the season. Pelfrey is now 3-11 with a 5.51 ERA.
More from White Sox News
- The Chicago White Sox continued to dominate the Oakland A’s
- Elvis Andrus has been an upgrade over Tim Anderson at shortstop
- The White Sox issued an update on Tony La Russa for the weekend
- 3 internal options for Tony La Russa’s replacement in 2023
- 3 White Sox free agents who won’t be back next year and why
Rodon was scratched due to left shoulder stiffness. That can’t be a good sign for the 24-year-old. He’s a very valuable asset to the team and you have to wonder what they do now. He missed a good portion of the season with an arm injury. Now, he was scratched from this start and he definitely hasn’t been himself this season.
It’s clear this team isn’t going anywhere. It may be smart to consider shutting Rodon down for the rest of 2017. Let him come back in the spring at full strength and go from there. He’s just too valuable an asset to chance anything. Sure, there are other pitchers in the farm system that are ultra talented, but the front office still views Rodon as their ace of the future.
Next: Jose Abreu Nominated for Roberto Clemente Award
This team’s window won’t be open for another few seasons. Rodon is expected to help anchor a very strong starting rotation. When the time comes, they want him to be at his best. With this season already being a loss, it might be worth letting him rest. He’s young, so the last thing you want is for him to suffer a serious injury that could change the direction of his career.