June 25--DETROIT -- Carlos Rodon makes his ninth start since joining the White Sox rotation, looking for his sixth quality start in his last seven outings.
The Sox originally wanted to use Rodon in the bullpen to limit his innings in his rookie season. But now that he's in a groove and one of the few bright spots in a rough season, the Sox will be hard-pressed to explain shutting him down in September if it comes to that.
Rodon has thrown 50 1/3 innings thus far, plus another 10 innings in two minor league starts. Manager Robin Ventura said they're not worried about a potential late-season shutdown yet, and know how to manage his innings wisely.
"There will be times for us, you get around the All-Star break you can kind of schedule that to a point where he's not the last guy out (before the break) and first guy (back)," Ventura said. "There's ways in the future, if you need to skip him you might be able so skip him.
"But for him to take full advantage his first time through as a pitcher I feel it's necessary and (pitching coach Don Cooper) feels the same thing -- that he goes out every five days like every body in the rotation and learns how to deal with that."
Rodon faces the Tigers' Alfredo Simon in the opener of a four-game series.
