White Sox game postponed because of Guardians’ COVID issues, rescheduled for July 23

The White Sox’ game Wednesday afternoon against the Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field was postponed because of multiple positive COVID-19 tests among Cleveland’s traveling party, including manager Terry Francona and bench coach DeMarlo Hale.

Other uniform personnel and some traveling support staff also tested positive.

The postponement, the first one in the majors this season because of a COVID cluster, was announced about an hour before the scheduled 1:10 p.m. start. Earlier Wednesday, the Guardians said Francona tested positive and would be replaced by Hale. A member of the team’s traveling party was ill Tuesday and left Guaranteed Rate Field.

A statement from MLB said the game was postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing. The Sox were testing visiting clubhouse personnel to make sure they were OK.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday, July 23, at Guaranteed Rate Field. Gametimes are 12:10 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

The Sox open a four-game series Thursday against the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Vince Velasquez, the scheduled starter Wednesday, was pushed ahead to Friday. Dylan Cease stays on schedule Thursday, while Dallas Keuchel (Saturday) and Michael Kopech (Sunday) were moved ahead, getting an extra day of rest.

Lucas Giolito is expected to start Monday when the Sox open a five-game series in Kansas City.

Lopez feeling better

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez said his low-back discomfort was subsiding. He was planning to play catch at 90 feet with the expectation of returning to his normal routine in two or three days.

“Today is much better than yesterday,” he said.

Lopez said the coaching staff noticed he wasn’t getting full extension when he pitched Monday and was removed from the game. He still felt it Tuesday walking around but was fine Wednesday morning, he said.

Cueto ‘will help us’

Johnny Cueto, who allowed two earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out six over 5 ¹⁄₃ innings in his fourth start Wednesday at Triple-A Charlotte, could get his first one for the Sox during a five-game series over four days against the Royals next week. Starting in one of the games of a split doubleheader Tuesday is a possibility.

Reliever Joe Kelly, who was with Cueto during his rehab assignment at Charlotte, said Cueto “is going to help us.”

“He was commanding all of his pitches for strikes,” Kelly said.

“He could dot. Some umpires give up on some of the ways his balls move, and they move a ton. He messes up hitters with timing, multiple looks, leg kicks, slide steps.”

• Andrew Vaughn, on the injured list with a bruised right hand, was 0-for-4 with a strikeout in his first rehab game. Vaughn is eligible to come off the IL on Thursday.

This and that

Leury Garcia was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup with a sore ankle. Yasmani Grandal and Yoan Moncada were scheduled for rest days.

• Sox starters own a 2.21 ERA and a .205 batting average against in the last 15 games.

• Luis Robert is 15-for-37 (.405) with two homers and six RBI during his nine-game hitting streak.

• Manager Tony La Russa, when asked if he felt better after Tuesday night’s 4-1 victory that followed Monday’s epic 12-9 loss in 11 innings in which the Sox blew a six-run lead in the ninth: “Here’s a very honest answer. It’s a lot better but it’s not 100% better because that loss the other day will never be forgotten.”