CLEVELAND — Shortstop Tim Anderson was scratched from the White Sox’ lineup shortly before their game against the Indians on Monday to be with his wife, Bria, who went into labor with the couple’s second child.
Anderson informed manager Rick Renteria less than two hours before the game and left for Chicago.
Jose Rondon, who was scheduled to play second base, made his first start at shortstop instead in the Sox’ 5-3 loss to the Indians. Rondon went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Yolmer Sanchez, who was going to have the day off, was 0-for-4 with his second error in four games. Sanchez is off to a 1-for-16 start.
The Sox have the day off Tuesday and a game Wednesday in Cleveland before their home opener Thursday. Anderson likely will miss both games of the Indians series.
Herrera’s velocity still climbing
Right-hander Kelvin Herrera said the strength of his left leg, which was affected after having surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot last summer, is not where it needs to be, but it’s close enough.
“Strength-wise, my left leg is probably not 100 percent yet, but it’s ready,” he said. “It’s good to pitch.’’
After using Herrera on consecutive days, Renteria stayed away from him in the eighth inning with a two-run lead because he doesn’t want to tax him this early.
According to Brooks Baseball, Herrera’s four-seam fastball in his two appearances averaged 95 mph, two mph lower than he averaged pitching for the Royals and Nationals last season.
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“I think velocity will be good with the warm weather,” Herrera said. “It’s so cold right now, I think a lot of pitchers aren’t where they want to be in terms of velocity. [So you have to] throw strikes and locate pitches.’’
Lineup shuffle
Against righty Mike Clevinger, Renteria shuffled his lineup, moving 2018 team home-run leader Daniel Palka (0-for-14) from sixth to second, hoping his left-handed bat would match better “against this guy — see how it works. He’s been trying to fall into his rhythm.’’
No one found a rhythm against Clevinger, who had a career-high 12 strikeouts. Palka went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and was lifted for pinch hitter Ryan Cordell, who homered against Jon Edwards in the eighth.
Baines to throw first pitch
Newly elected Hall of Famer Harold Baines, who played 14 of his 22 seasons with the Sox, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the home opener Thursday against the Mariners. Elected by the Today’s Game Era Committee, Baines will join the late Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith in the Class of 2019.
This and that
The Sox have lost 24 of their last 31 games against the Indians, including nine of 10 in Cleveland. Dating to the start of 2018, the Indians have outscored the Sox 109-30.
† Catcher Welington Castillo reached base four times (single, two walks, hit by pitch).
† Ivan Nova has a 2.64 ERA in his last five starts dating to Sept. 8 with the Pirates. After not allowing a walk in 19 innings during spring training, he walked one batter Monday.
