April 20--DETROIT -- After starting the season 4-7, the White Sox will call up some relief Monday when they return home for a seven-game stand at U.S. Cellular Field.
Top prospect Carlos Rodon will join the Sox on Monday, and the left-hander is expected to initially pitch out of the bullpen, a team source confirmed after Sunday's 9-1 loss to the Tigers.
Rodon, the No. 3 overall draft pick in June, had an impressive spring, going 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA, five walks and 21 strikeouts in 172/3 innings.
But the Sox sent Rodon to Triple-A Charlotte not only for the service-time benefit but for him to work on his changeup and fastball command. The Sox view Rodon long-term as a starter, but general manager Rick Hahn mentioned during spring training that they could use Rodon in the bullpen at first, as they did initially with Chris Sale.
"He could survive in the bullpen right now, yes," Hahn said at the end of March. "We may get to the point ... of bringing him through the bullpen, in part because it will make the bullpen stronger and in part because OK, now he has to refine that fastball command against big-league hitters or get used to throwing all three of his pitches at the big-league level as the next stage in his development."
Rodon posted a 3.60 ERA in two starts with Charlotte, giving up eight hits, walking four and striking out 13 in 10 innings. He said before he departed for Charlotte that he thought his experience with the big-league team during the spring would help him when he makes his debut.
"There will still be butterflies when the debut comes, whatever day that is," Rodon said. "But it makes it a little easier I guess because I've faced big-league hitters before. But it counts a little more when that happens."
The Sox could use Rodon in the bullpen for a while, but inserting him into the back end of the rotation could provide a big boost for a team that needs it there. Left-hander John Danks, who is owed $28.5 million over the final two seasons of his contract, has posted a 6.97 ERA. Right-hander Hector Noesi has pitched in just one game -- the Sox skipped his last start because days off allowed them to do so -- lasting only 42/3 innings. He has a 3.86 ERA.
The news comes after left-hander Jose Quintana, the Sox's No. 3 starter, had his worst outing of the season Sunday, allowing a career-high nine runs in his four-plus innings.
Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes, acquired from the Red Sox in December, became the newest offensive weapon to damage the Sox, hitting a grand slam in the first inning and a two-run homer in the third. He has four career homers and nine RBIs in eight at-bats against Quintana.
The Sox were excited to use their top three pitchers against the Tigers, but only Sale came away with a victory in the three-game series. While Jeff Samardzija turned in an impressive outing Friday, Quintana took a step back. He needed 42 pitches to get through the first inning, often getting ahead in the count but failing to put hitters away.
Manager Robin Ventura said he knows Quintana will be better.
"It's a tough lineup to go through, but you have to be a little more aggressive, have them swinging the bat," Ventura said. "He just seemed to be 3-2 on everybody. Unusual for him to be like that, so you just chalk it up to a bad day for him."
ckane@tribpub.com
