White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon hasn’t had it easy of late.
As if his struggles on the mound haven’t been enough, Rodon sprained his left wrist when he slipped on the dugout steps Friday. He was trying to break his fall on his way out for the national anthem.
The Sox put Rodon on the 15-day disabled list Saturday (retroactive to Wednesday) and recalled right-hander Tommy Kahnle from Class AAA Charlotte. Kahnle is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in five appearances with the Sox this season. He’s 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 23 relief appearances at Charlotte.
Rodon is 2-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 16 starts.
“It’s very frustrating,” Rodon said. “There’s not much you can do. [It’s] tough. I got my butt whipped by the Yankees [in his last start], then I slipped coming out of the dugout.”
Manager Robin Ventura said Rodon won’t throw during the All-Star break this week and will miss a start.
“It’s unfortunate,” Ventura said. “Hopefully it’s not going to be anything that lingers past these two weeks. It’s something you deal with, and somebody else is going to have to fill his spot when we start back up after the break.”
Ventura said Rodon probably would have to make a rehab start before he returns.
Rodon, who will wear a brace for the next seven to 10 days, said he hasn’t gotten much grief from his teammates.
“I’m not going to lie, I was a little embarrassed,” he said. “I was like, ‘I hope no one saw that.’ I got out there and was just laughing when the anthem was going on. I came back in and sat down, and I was like, ‘Uh, all right, this kind of hurts a little bit.’
“Bad break, man. There’s nothing you can do. Trust me, I didn’t want this to happen, either.”
Upcoming Sale
Ventura doesn’t know whether Chris Sale will start in the All-Star Game, and he isn’t sure when Sale will make his first start of the second half.
Ventura’s plans changed with Rodon going on the disabled list. Jose Quintana will start the first game after the break, Friday at the Angels.
Asked if Sale could pitch next Sunday, Ventura said, “I think he could — it probably is not going to happen.’’
Sale’s next start figures to come during a three-game series in Seattle that begins on July 18.
Closing time
Closer David Robertson won’t pitch until after the All-Star break because of a high strain in his left leg. Robertson was sore Thursday and wasn’t available to pitch Friday or Saturday. An MRI exam confirmed a mild strain.
“It’s making it tough to pitch right now because I really can’t move that well,” Robertson said. “It’s a tough break for me, and guys are giving their best to pick up the slack.”
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