(670 The Score) While White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon has been one of the top pitchers in the American League this season, logistical and health factors have his role for the AL Division Series up in the air next week.
Rodon threw five scoreless innings and earned the victory in the White Sox’s 6-1 win against the Reds on Wednesday, but his fastball was once again maxing out in the 92-93 miles-per-hour range after sitting between 96 and 98 for the first half of the season. It’s a symptom of the shoulder fatigue that Rodon has been dealing with in recent weeks, and the length of time he needs between starts has become a central issue. Rodon has had extended rest – either eight or nine days – before his past three starts, and his velocity and pitch count have been closely monitored as the team has looked to keep him healthy.
"The big key is going to be how he feels (the next few days),” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said after Rodon threw 69 pitches Wednesday evening. “He wants to get closer to where he was velocity-wise, so right now (we) just reserve judgment.”
It’s likely the White Sox will start right-hander Lance Lynn and right-hander Lucas Giolito in some order in their first two games of the playoffs. The White Sox are in line to face the Astros in the best-of-five AL Division Series. If the standings hold, Chicago would open that series in Houston on Oct. 7.
As for Game 3 of the ALDS, it could be a tossup for the White Sox between giving the ball to Rodon or right-hander Dylan Cease. Left-hander Dallas Keuchel’s role is also unclear after he had struggled for a long stretch but pitched well in his last three outings.
“We will be checking in on Carlos on Friday,” La Russa said. “We have seen all year long what he can do if he is himself. He went out there got up and down five times. That’s an important box checked off.”
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One option for the White Sox would be to piggy-back Rodon with powerful right-hander Michael Kopech out of the bullpen behind him. That was the route the White Sox took Wednesday, with Kopech throwing three scoreless innings and 35 pitches in relief of Rodon.
La Russa didn’t commit to that plan for the playoffs, knowing well that Kopech could be needed in the first two games of the series.
“He does not have to be wedded to (Rodon),” La Russa said. “We can use him in a lot of different situations. He was really good (Wednesday), and that is a good sign. We wanted to get him stretched out. We did that.”
Rodon downplayed any worry about his velocity sitting around 92 miles per hour Wednesday. He expected there to be hurdles after he pitched just 7 2/3 innings in the regular season in 2020 while coming back from Tommy John surgery. Rodon has thrown 132 2/3 innings in 2021.
"Sometimes you just have to go out there and pitch,” Rodon said. “Sometimes you do not have the overpowering fastball. I was able to throw secondary stuff and get weak contact. This gives me confidence in our team. We can do a lot of damage in the postseason. I will likely be sore after each time I pitch. I will just take these days in between and get ready for whatever the postseason holds for me and the team.
“As you see, I still go out there and do my job. If I have to go out and win it for the team, that is what I am going to do. Right now, it’s take it day-by-day and see how I feel. I will just go out there and take the ball. That's it. We are at that point of the season where you just have to work. This is what I do.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.