Pregame notes: Tim Elko returns

Lenyn Sosa felt a tweak in his right hip while running the bases two days ago, prompting the White Sox to make a needs-based promotion for an infielder.

Already stocked with a healthy supply of versatile defenders, they were leaning first baseman, since the coaching staff was already discussing ways to keep Miguel Vargas at third base more often. It's also worth mentioning that Sosa is hopeful his right hip flexor strain will only cause a minimum stay on the injured list, so this could be just a temporary assignment.

"Thank God it’s nothing serious," Sosa said via interpreter. "I started feeling it early in the game and as the game progressed, the pain was more intense."

But in either case, the Sox opted for Elko over Andrew Vaughn.

"it's been a journey and that's part of the game," Elko said. "I've enjoyed every minute of it. You gotta enjoy the ups and downs. And yeah, being back here definitely feels great to be with these guys and just get ready to win some games."

Vaughn out-hit Elko during the tiny sample they were in Charlotte together, compiling a .273/.333/.424 line at tiny Truist Field which has only recently turned for the better, and doesn't yet reflect a major league first baseman who has gotten things going again. But if the Sox are serious about playing Vargas at third base more, it could also represent a decent chunk of at-bats for Elko over the next two weeks.

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The Sox remain committed to working the waiver wire, as shown by claiming reliever Ryan Cusick off waivers from these Tigers. A former first round pick from Wake Forest, the right-hander has the fastball-slider combination for medium leverage work, but so far has commanded the baseball at a level that has him bouncing to his third organization of the past week. The Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte and moved Miguel Castro to the 60-day injured list. Castro had season-ending surgery on his torn right patellar tendon this week.

Tyler Gilbert (right MCL sprain) is beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Colson Montgomery is back in the Charlotte lineup and playing shortstop after missing a few days due to taking a pitch off the knee.

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Jared Shuster is starting off this bullpen game Wednesday night, with Mike Vasil working as essentially the bulk pitcher, even if Shuster is ideally working a bit longer than the typical opener.

Coming off of Tommy John surgery rehab, Sawyer Gipson-Long is pitching in his first major league game since 2023. Rust might be the primary thing the Sox have on their side. At last look, SGL had the stuff of a solid back-end starter.

Kerry Carpenter was scratched from the lineup with right hamstring tightness.

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Will Venable did not have an updated timeline on Jonathan Cannon, nor an answer on how the White Sox will fill his spot in the rotation. Hell, even the estimate on Sosa came from the man himself, not the team.

It will be Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Adrian Houser and then Shane Smith after Wednesday's bullpen game, so the Sox can put off figuring out how to replace Cannon until the road trip to Texas. Additionally, there's an off day on Monday before the road trip, so they could really boot the can down the street if they had a mind to.

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At publish time, neither starting pitcher had headed out to the bullpen to warm up yet. That ain't good. This game will start in a weather delay.

First pitch: White Sox vs. Tigers

TV: CHSN

Radio: ESPN 1000 AM, WRTO 1200 AM

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