White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez expected to miss Cubs series with sprained foot

The White Sox likely will be without left fielder Eloy Jimenez in their final regular-season series against the Cubs because of a sprain in the middle of his right foot suffered Thursday against the Indians.

‘‘Right now, we’re just straight up day-to-day,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘There is some inflammation in there we want to calm down. We’ll know more where we’re at in a few days after getting it treated.’’

The Sox opened their three-game home series Friday against the Cubs trailing the Twins by one game in the American League Central and riding a five-game losing streak. The first round of the playoffs begins Tuesday.

It’s a significant blow to the Sox’ lineup, which has cooled off a bit in the last week. Whether the injury will prevent Jimenez from participating in the postseason isn’t known. He wasn’t oozing optimism on his Zoom call before the game Friday.

‘‘It doesn’t feel good,’’ said Jimenez, who hurt the foot rounding third base. ‘‘Because we are in the playoffs . . . for me right now it just kind of sucks. But it’s still a possibility, too, that I can play. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to do whatever I need to do to play and help the team.”

Jimenez, who has been hitting fourth and fifth, is batting .296/.332/.559 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI. In seven career games against the Cubs, who traded him to the Sox in 2017, he is batting .320/.414/.760 with three homers.

Adam Engel started in Jimenez’s place in left field.

Marshall is back

Right-hander Evan Marshall returned from the injured list and rejoined a bullpen that, while inexperienced in the postseason, potentially stacks up as a plus.

‘‘I don’t see why it wouldn’t be, seeing the plethora of hard-throwing left-handed arms we have down there and guys like me who can just sort of get it done different ways,’’ Marshall said.

Rookies Codi Heuer (1.54 ERA entering Friday) and Matt Foster (2.45), Marshall (2.49) and closer Alex Colome (0.84) have been good from the right side. From the left side, there’s Aaron Bummer (1.08) and rookie Garrett Crochet (0.00 in four appearances). Carlos Rodon had a rough outing in a tough spot Thursday in his return from a sore shoulder, but he was hitting 96 to 98 mph on the radar gun.

Marshall said that the inflammation in his right shoulder is gone and that he is ‘‘feeling better than ever.’’

‘‘Everyone is sort of getting tuned up for the playoffs,’’ Marshall said. ‘‘We are a playoff team, and I think we have a playoff bullpen. It’s about time we show it.’’

SoxFest canceled

Because of the uncertainty caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Sox canceled SoxFest 2021. The fan convention was slated for Jan. 22-23 at McCormick Place.

‘‘We are exploring new ways to connect with fans this winter,’’ the Sox said in a statement announcing the decision, which wasn’t unexpected. ‘‘Additional updates about virtual programs will be announced in the coming months.’’

This and that

The Sox optioned right-hander Jose Ruiz to their alternate training site in Schaumburg to make room for Marshall on the roster.

• Right-hander Ian Hamilton was claimed off waivers by the Mariners.

• The Sox will try to finish the season 14-0 against lefty starters when they face the Cubs’ Jon Lester on Saturday.