Avisail Garcia expected to miss two games with sprained finger

Chicago White Sox Avisail Garcia rounds third as he scores against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 20, 2017, in Minneapolis. The Twins won 9-7. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) ORG XMIT: MNBK124

DENVER — All-Star right fielder Avisail Garcia was scratched from the White Sox’ game Friday against the Rockies because of a sprained middle finger on his right hand. He said he will miss the game Saturday, too.

Garcia, who missed five games with inflammation in his left knee before returning to play in two of the three games of the Sox’ series this week against the Athletics, jammed the finger when he lined out in his second at-bat Wednesday.

‘‘I’m OK, [but] my finger has a little inflammation,’’ said Garcia, who is having trouble getting a strong grip on the bat. ‘‘I’m not playing today. I’m not playing tomorrow. I’m playing Sunday. I will be fine.’’

Garcia said he couldn’t close his hand on the Sox’ day off Thursday but can close it now.

‘‘That means I’m getting better,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t want to risk it at this point.’’

The All-Star Game is Tuesday in Miami. Garcia was named to his first All-Star team via player vote.

‘‘A little frustrating for him,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘Had a little jam shot the other day, so his finger is a little bruised up or something. They’re taking care of it. Right now, he’s day-to-day.’’

Renteria said he’s looking forward to watching Garcia play in Miami.

‘‘You’re sending a representative for the organization, a young man who has worked really, really hard to get where he is,’’ Renteria said. ‘‘He deserves it. A little exclamation point to what he’s done to this point.’’

Swarzak on ‘Team Tommy’

David Robertson rejoined the Sox after being on paternity leave for the birth of his daughter, meaning Tommy Kahnle’s responsibility as closer is over — unless Robertson is traded before the non-waiver deadline July 31.

Kahnle, whose career began with the Rockies in 2014, has an ‘‘aw, shucks’’ kind of mindset that would serve him well in the ninth inning, veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak said.

‘‘I’ve been on Team Tommy since day one,’’ Swarzak said. ‘‘He’s a different guy, but I think that kind of helps him. He knows who he is, and he’ll go out and give you his best every day. He prepares as best as I’ve ever seen in this game. He works hard.

‘‘The ninth is a different animal, but he has the stuff to get it done.’’

Prospect Robert hurts knee

Outfield prospect Luis Robert suffered a minor injury to the meniscus in his left knee on a slide while stealing home in a Dominican summer-league game Tuesday and will be out at least seven days while he receives treatment. The Sox signed Robert, a 19-year-old from Cuba, to a $26 million bonus in May.

Robert is the No. 45 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America’s midseason rankings. He is one of seven Sox prospects — tied for the most in baseball — on MLB.com’s Top 100 list. Those on the list are second baseman Yoan Moncada (No. 1), right-hander Michael Kopech (No. 11), Robert (No. 25), right-hander Lucas Giolito (No. 30), right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (No. 38), right-hander Carson Fulmer (No. 61) and catcher Zack Collins (No. 70).

MLB.com ranks the Sox’ farm system third, and Baseball America ranks it fifth.

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Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com