The White Sox completed the three-game weekend sweep of Seattle in the 4-3 comeback win in a rain-shortened game, but not without some lingering questions about the starting staff as they move forward.
Sunday starter Gavin Floyd had to leave the game after two innings because of discomfort in his right elbow, after Floyd allowed one run on three hits, fanning one and walking one. It wasn’t the first time the elbow has been an issue for Floyd, either; he was on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis back in July.
He was replaced by Hector Santiago, who was stretched out during his stint in the minor leagues in July, and Floyd was expected to be re-evaluated on Monday.
There are options if Floyd has to miss some time, with Santiago and Philip Humber both options out of the bullpen.
Beyond the Floyd injury, the Sox are seeing the finish line for the Central Division title, but are hoping they have the starting pitchers to get there.
Jose Quintana and Chris Sale are first-time major-league starters, with Sale spending the past two seasons in the bullpen and Quintana in the minor leagues. And then there are always the health concerns surrounding veteran Jake Peavy, who is yet to have a healthy full season since coming over from San Diego in 2009.
The Sox have an off day Thursday, and manager Robin Ventura said he will keep everyone on a regular schedule for now after giving both Sale and Quintana rests back in July to help ease the number of innings they were clocking.
“Q is kind of in the same category as Chris,” Ventura said. “It’s the first time he’s been through this extended period of the season. You know, if we can, if there’s a chance to do it and he thinks he needs to have that, it could possibly happen.
“Right now, we are not looking to do that. We are just kind of monitoring how they are doing and how they pitch and how they feel afterwards.”
Ventura mentioned that Peavy, who sits at a team-high 175 innings pitched, doesn’t want or need any extra rest; he is more than two years removed from surgery. Sale feels the same way, even after breezing past his season high for innings pitched.
“I’ve said it before: It’s not how you start but how you finish,” said Sale, who has 22 starts and 153 innings pitched. “I want to finish as strong (as) if not stronger than the way I started this thing.”