MINNEAPOLIS — Right-handed reliever Joe Kelly landed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right groin, and shortstop Tim Anderson left the White Sox’ 4-3 victory Monday against the Twins with a sore left knee.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada didn’t play because of a sore lower back.
Kelly tweaked his groin running onto the field from the bullpen in the Sox’ benches-clearing incident in Pittsburgh on Sunday, he said.
Not a great day on the health front for the Sox, who got through the first 10 games with minimal aches and pains.
Anderson got turned around near third base during a rundown and got clipped on the knee by a sliding Matt Wallner in the fourth inning. He is being further evaluated and wasn’t available after the game.
“He felt a little bit of pain when it happened,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “He felt like he could play through it, and it stiffened up on him a little bit. He’s getting further evaluated tonight, but we’ll see how that plays out. I’m optimistic.”
Anderson clutched his knee and writhed in pain momentarily but got up and stayed in the game. He was replaced by Elvis Andrus, who moved over from second base, in the sixth inning.
Middleton called up
To replace Kelly, right-handed reliever Keynan Middleton’s contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte. Middleton has pitched three scoreless innings for the Knights, getting one save.
Middleton, 29, was signed to a minor-league contract in January.
“He’s a competitor; he’s intense; he takes the ball,” Grifol said. “I was impressed in the spring. There’s no hesitation on our part to have him with us.”
Middleton, who will wear No. 99, has an 8-6 record with a 4.01 ERA and 13 saves in 154 games with the Angels (2017-20), Mariners (2021) and Diamondbacks (2022).
After signing a two-year, $17 million contract last March, Kelly began the season on the injured list with a biceps nerve issue, then made 43 appearances and had a 6.08 ERA. His stint on the IL is retroactive to Sunday.
Kelly has allowed three runs and four hits in three appearances this season.
The Sox outrighted right-hander Jonathan Stiever to Charlotte to make room on the 40-man roster for Middleton.
Moncada day-to-day
Moncada, 0-for-12 after starting the season with a seven-game hitting streak, has what Grifol called “a little back soreness, kind of the same thing that got him in the spring a little bit.”
He is day-to-day.
“Ten or 11 games in, we have to nip that in the bud quickly,” Grifol said, “rather than trying to grind through pain. That’s not the right thing to do.”
All for one
Grifol said he expected every player to be on the field when benches and dugouts cleared against the Pirates, and they were. Not a surprise.
“It’s always uncomfortable to see 26 guys on each club go out there and tangle,” Grifol said. “It’s one of those things that are unavoidable. Everybody has to go out there. That’s what teams do. They fight for each other and protect each other.
“You’re with your squad. You got your guy’s back. They had their guy’s back. Which is cool. Now it sparked a fire where you want to beat them, beat them with your play. That gets the best out of guys.”
