Chicago White Sox: 3 players to get healthy for playoffs
The Chicago White Sox are officially going to the postseason. There are a lot of reasons why but they are going to the postseason for the first time in 2008. It is the first time in franchise history that they are going to the playoffs for a second straight year. They did it on the back of some serious young talent throughout the organization. A rebuild has worked and now they are serious contenders.
There have been a lot of things that happened this season that could have buried the team but they always seemed to play well through adversity. One of those big issues this season has been injuries. They saw Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, and Yasmani Grandal go through some serious injuries that caused them to miss significant time.
Now, those three are back and playing as well as ever. It has really been a spark to the team’s offense. If every player of consequence stays healthy, they are a team that could make a deep run towards the American League pennant and potentially the World Series.
The depth on this team has been tested all season long. The three players mentioned before in Grandal, Jimenez, and Robert have only played in the same lineup as Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, and Jose Abreu just five times this season. They are 4-1 in those games, including the division-clinching win over the Cleveland Indians.
The Chicago White Sox needs all of their players healthy and ready to go by October.
Big things are coming for this team but they still have some injury concerns. Nothing is serious right now but there are some bumps and bruises to be concerned with. Some of these players are on the IL right now and some are just playing through some stuff. These are the three players to get back to 100 percent by the first postseason game:
Carlos Rodon could be a huge factor for the Chicago White Sox in the 2021 playoffs.
The Chicago White Sox has a lot of great players. Their rotation has been a big part of things in 2021. Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Dallas Keuchel, Dylan Cease, and Carlos Rodon have been magnificent. Even guys like Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez have had some really nice starts throughout the year. All of them need to be healthy in order for the White Sox to succeed.
Of all those guys, Carlos Rodon is the biggest concern in terms of health. Lance Lynn and Lucas Giolito had a little bit of a concern a few weeks ago but they are just fine. Rodon, on the other hand, has some serious arm soreness that needs to be figured out before the playoffs. When he is healthy, he is one of the three best starters in the organization.
Rodon is going to get a start against the Cincinnati Reds next week. In that start, they are going to determine his plan for the playoffs. If for whatever reason, he can’t go, the White Sox have options.
Dallas Keuchel may be a starter after all in the playoffs but Michael Kopech and Reynaldo Lopez are certainly ready as well. It would be really nice to see the White Sox get Rodon nice and ready so that they can use their best four in the postseason.
Andrew Vaughn has been brilliant for the Chicago White Sox in his rookie season.
Andrew Vaughn is one of the most talented rookies in Major League Baseball. He was having a great season before his late August/early September slump. Then, the White Sox put him on the 10-day injured list because of a back issue. At that point, his slump started to make a bit of sense. When Vaughn is healthy, he is a dangerous hitter. In just his first season, he has shown that the sky is the limit.
Another thing that makes Vaugh great is his ability to play literally anywhere on the diamond. In spring training, the plan was to have him in as the designated hitter. Well, when Eloy Jimenez went down, they needed someone who can play the position well. They asked Vaughn if he could try it and he has done it as well as they could have possibly imagined. He is someone who never played a day of left field in his life and you would never know it by watching him.
We weren’t sure when the White Sox would activate Vaughn until the day they clinched. He was announced to be in the starting lineup of the doubleheader’s second game right after the team activated him. He was very good in his first game back.
He also played third base in this one which goes back to what we said about his versatility on defense. There is nothing this kid can’t do so it is extremely important for the White Sox to make sure he is 100 percent and feeling good about his game by October.
Ryan Tepera would make the Chicago White Sox bullpen that much better.
Ryan Tepera’s placement on the injured list came as a surprise to a lot of people. He, according to himself, sliced his finger on his apartment door frame. It is one of those crazy accidents that you hate to see but it is going to happen from time to time. It is a non-baseball-related injury but a slice on an important finger could absolutely impede your ability to throw a ball.
Tepera is hopeful to be back in time for the Cincinnati Reds series next week. It may or may not come true but that is the goal. The White Sox will have a much more complete bullpen when he is added to the mix. With Tepera, Aaron Bummer, and Michael Kopech, there are some really good setup options for Craig Kimbrel and Liam Hendriks.
He hasn’t been with the team for very long but he has been very consistent in his short time with them. They believe that he is a great piece for their run to an American League pennant. In order for that to happen, they need this finger wound to heal up and allow him to be ready for the postseason.
All three of these players are in a different spot. The White Sox are still figuring out what to do with Rodon and Tepera is still working to be off the IL at all. Meanwhile, Andrew Vaughn appears to be healthy but they need to get him ready for the playoffs. If all of these things come together, the White Sox have as good of a chance as anyone.