White Sox right-hander Lance Lynn has inflammation in his right knee, it was revealed Tuesday, and the All-Star likely will miss a start while he’s on the 10-day injured list.
Lynn, 34, who is 10-4 with a 2.59 ERA in 24 starts, said the knee began bothering him after he pitched in the Field of Dreams game Aug. 12. In Lynn’s next start against the Athletics, he was ejected after the fourth inning when he threw his belt on the field while hurrying to the clubhouse, as he said Tuesday, to get a knee brace.
Lynn allowed a season-high seven runs in five innings Saturday against the Cubs.
“It hasn’t gone away,” said Lynn, who has dealt with knee soreness in the past but not to this degree. “Each start has been a little different. We probably could have kept going, but we didn’t want to risk putting something in jeopardy where I was going to be worrying about things coming down the stretch for the playoff push or in October.”
Reynaldo Lopez (3-1, 1.59 ERA) will take Lynn’s turn in the rotation and make his fifth start Saturday in Kansas City.
Lynn said missing more than one start could cause a regression with his arm buildup, so missing one turn is the best move.
Infielder Danny Mendick was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to take Lynn’s spot on the active roster.
More time off for Anderson
Shortstop Tim Anderson, who had days off Sunday and Monday (off day) to rest his sore hamstrings, will have at least three more, missing the two-game series against the Pirates followed by another off day Thursday.
“Hopefully, he’s OK for Kansas City,” manager Tony La Russa said. “But we’re going to get his legs strong and fresh before we play him again, hopefully this weekend.”
Anderson has missed six of the last 11 games. An IL stint isn’t happening because trainer James Kruk and team doctors are not viewing it as an injury, just stiffness and soreness, La Russa said.
“His legs are such an important part of his defense and offense that you’ve got to try to get him well because if they’re sore all through September, they’re not going to get un-sore in a hurry,” La Russa said.
Billy’s back
La Russa said outfielder Billy Hamilton, who went on the IL with a strained right oblique, will be activated Wednesday, the first day rosters can be expanded — but only to 28 this season. Adam Engel (shoulder, groin) is expected to go on a rehab stint this weekend.
Adjustment for Kimbrel
Ryan Tepera, who pitched with Craig Kimbrel with the Cubs before joining the Sox together at the trade deadline, suggested Kimbrel’s inconsistency could be related to one of the game’s best closers pitching a lot in the eighth inning.
“It’s a little bit of an adjustment for him,” Tepera said. “Every successful bullpen has that where you have your set guys, and you know more or less when you’re going to pitch, and you can prepare that way and establish those roles, and it usually takes half a season to kind of get that.
‘‘And we’ve been thrown into a situation where it’s kind of new to us and Tony. That said, we have to be prepared at any time. The roles will get more defined as we go on and move closer to the playoffs.”
