White Sox Minor Keys: Sept. 16, 2021

(Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

As Evan Marshall embarked on his rehab stint, I was unclear what it would mean if he were able to fulfill it. He had a 5.60 ERA before he suffered a tear in the flexor muscle of his right elbow, and with the additions of Craig Kimbrel and Ryan Tepera, the White Sox wouldn’t have a whole lot of use for a Marshall was was compromised any further.

But Marshall suffered a setback after pitching back-to-back days with Charlotte Sept. 3-4, and Scott Merkin got details about Marshall’s current condition. It’s basically the same as it was in his first attempt at a rehab stint, except now the clock is reset, and the season doesn’t have 20 left in it.

after throwing in back-to-back games from Sept. 3-4, the soreness elevated.

The White Sox and Marshall sought out a second opinion to make sure there was no harm in trying to come back; he ended up getting a shot in his elbow to exhaust all options for October. There could be at least one bullpen spot open for the team’s Division Series roster even if the White Sox opt for eight relievers.

“It’s feeling much better now,” Marshall said. “I’ll start a catch program tomorrow, and assuming I didn’t really lose anything during this week that I haven’t thrown, we’ll ramp up pretty quickly [with] the bullpens, long toss and then hopefully a live BP, and then back by the end [of the regular season] or back by the playoffs. Or if it’s round two of the playoffs, whatever I can do to be around and help.”

Durham 2, Charlotte 1

  • Adam Engel went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
  • Yermín Mercedes was 1-for-4 with a K.
  • Jake Burger, 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Micker Adolfo went 1-for-3 with his eighth homer.
  • Blake Rutherford, 1-for-2 with a walk.

Asheville 10, Winston-Salem 1

  • Luis Mieses went 2-for-5 with a strikeout.
  • Luis Curbelo was 2-for-4 with a double.
  • Harvin Mendoza, 0-for-4 with a K.

Birmingham at Montgomery, PPD
Kannapolis at Columbia, cancelled

(Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

Author

  • Jim Margalus

    Writing about the White Sox for a 16th season, first here, then at South Side Sox, and now here again. Let’s talk curling.

    View all posts
Take a second to support Sox Machine on Patreon
Become a patron at Patreon!
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
knoxfire30

Sox playoff roster shouldn’t have a spot for Dallas, so you gotta think an extra bullpen arm is available to them. Now who that will be I don’t know and it may depend on how certain players have faired vs the Astros in the past.

HallofFrank

I agree, but let’s play devil’s advocate. I expect they’ll each get three more starts (Cease may get two depending on rest). Cease has struggled his last few starts—what if that continues and Dallas tosses a few more games like last night?

To be clear, I don’t expect it to, but the 4th playoff starter conversation could become interesting in a hurry if Keuchel looks like the hot hand—especially with his experience. I still might lean Cease because I’m more confident he could tame a really good offense, but it would make for some interesting conversation.

knoxfire30

I really dont see anything other then injury changing who the top 4 are. Even if Cease struggles down the stretch, Id rather take the chance his good version shows up in the playoffs because his ceiling is so much higher then keuchels . Your worst case scenario is he gets knocked out early and you go to lopez and a pen day. Keuchel “A” games are gone maybe forever, I dont want a playoff starter whose upside is 5 innings 3 or 4 runs allowed.

HallofFrank

It’s a little unfair to call that Keuchel’s upside. He has more 6.0+ IP starts (12-10) and 7.0+ IP starts (4-3) than Cease this season. We’re also only a year removed from arguably the best season of Keuchel’s career (although it was shortened and CY season likely still takes it).

The results have been rough this season, I grant you, and Cease has an ability to overpower that Keuchel doesn’t. Still, if it all clicks for Keuchel down the stretch and Cease continues to struggle, it’s at least got to be a conversation.