Chris Sale gets moved up to pitch vs. Royals in makeup game; Peavy possibly to DL
BY DARYL VAN SCHOUWEN dvanschouwen@suntimes.com May 5, 2013 9:21PM
Chicago White Sox v Kansas City Royals
Updated: May 5, 2013 10:16PM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a move that seemed like a no-brainer, Chris Sale is moving up a day to face the Royals in Monday’s makeup game. The White Sox’ ace lefty was scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Mets and Matt Harvey in New York, but Jake Peavy’s back injury forced manager Robin Ventura to shuffle the rotation.
Sale will pitch on four days’ rest. Hector Santiago will pitch Tuesday on four days’ rest as well.
The best-case scenario for Peavy would be pitching Wednesday in New York. The worst case is the disabled list, a chilling — for a team that has been riddled with injuries — scenario that hasn’t been ruled out.
“No, it’s a possibility,’’ Ventura said. “We’re going by today and tomorrow and how he feels. He’s getting better, but I don’t know if it’s enough to expect him to go out and pitch seven or eight innings. I’m not a doctor, but you wait it out and see how he feels.”
Ventura may not be an M.D., but he’s learning a lot about medicine managing a team that has seven players on the DL and a few others nursing minor injuries.
“It’s a tough road, but it happens,’’ said Sale, who will be opposed by James Shields.
Good for starters
Sox starters own a 2.90 ERA over the last 16 games, somewhat remarkable considering that Gavin Floyd is out with an elbow injury, John Danks is on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues and Peavy has missed a turn.
The bullpen, however, is 1-6 with a 4.98 ERA with 29 walks over 47 innings during that span.
Sunday’s starter, Jose Quintana, opened with four hitless innings, then gave up six hits to the last 10 batters he faced and didn’t finish the sixth inning.
Rios breaks through
Alex Rios, who was hitting .164 in his previous 18 games, hit his seventh homer in the seventh inning for his first extra-base hit since April 24.
“He’s probably a little pull-happy right now,’’ Ventura said before the game.
