Carlos Rodon is still on for Game 4, and Lance Lynn will be available in the bullpen.
If the White Sox can force a deciding Game 5 in the American League Division Series with a victory Tuesday, Lucas Giolito would start again in Houston, where he started in Game 2, on full rest Wednesday. But first, they’ll have to get past Astros Game 1 starter Lance McCullers, who was named to start Game 4 after it was postponed Monday due to expected rain.
The Sox are looking for their first good outing from a starter in the ALDS, and they are banking on Rodon, who has dealt with shoulder soreness the last several weeks, to deliver Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
“That’s exciting,” manager Tony La Russa said Monday morning, about 11 hours after the Sox beat the Astros 12-6 in an exhilarating four and a half hour game Sunday night. “A must win [Tuesday], and we can get to Game 5. I don’t know what Houston is saying, but that game was so long and with a quick turnaround, this makes for better baseball Tuesday.”
La Russa said everyone used in the bullpen with the exception of Michael Kopech would have been available Monday.
But “having the extra day off definitely is going to be a little bit of deep breath and a breather for us and to be able to go back out for Game 4,” said Aaron Bummer, who struck out four in 1 2⁄3 innings of perfect relief.
Rodon allowed one run over 14 innings in two starts against the Astros this season, and he is saying he feels better with each day. He told La Russa he could pitch in relief Sunday.
Lynn, who gave up five runs in 3 2⁄3 innings in Game 1, had his cleats on in the bullpen during the Sox’ 12-6 win over the Astros Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field. He pitched in relief for the World Series champion Cardinals as a rookie for La Russa in 2011, so it’s not foreign territory for the 33-year-old veteran.
Having Lynn available in long relief is good knowing Kopech, who pitched 2 1⁄3 innings innings of three-run ball and threw 47 pitches Sunday, needs two days rest and would’t be available till a possible Game 5.
Everyone else in the bullpen will be available Tuesday two days after Ryan Tepera (two innings), Bummer (1 2⁄3 innings), Craig Kimbrel (one batter), and Liam Hendriks (one inning) combined for five masterful innings of perfect relief Sunday.
“We all wanted to play [Monday] to keep this thing rolling and keep the momentum, but yeah, the extra day off definitely helps our bullpen,” said Bummer, who struck out four of the five batters he faced Sunday. “We used a lot of guys yesterday, a couple guys longer than what we’re used to.”
The extra day also allowed the Astros to McCullers, the Astros’ No. 1 starter who threw 6 2⁄3 scoreless innings in Game 1, on normal rest. José Urquidy was scheduled to start, but the Astros want to put the hammer down Tuesday.
Rodon threw five scoreless innings against the Reds in his last start 12 days ago. If he brings the same 90-91 mph velocity, the concern is how that would play against the Astros’ vaunted lineup.
“It all depends which Rodon is present,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said after Game 3. “According to our reports he isn’t throwing as hard as he has before.”
“It would be better, the more velocity he has, the better his chances are of getting a lineup like that out,” La Russa said. “I think we’ll have more than he did that last game against Cincinnati, but let’s wait and see.”
“I think it’s going to be a little different than the last couple of times,” Rodon told reporters Saturday. “I feel like the adrenaline is going to carry me through and I feel good right now. I think I’m going to have the stuff that I had before.”
