OAKLAND, Calif. — Rookie phenom Jose Abreu’s sore left ankle will get some much-needed rest later this week.
The Chicago White Sox have a day off Thursday, and manager Robin Ventura said his first baseman would be out of the lineup either Wednesday afternoon in the series finale against the Oakland A’s or Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Astros in Houston.
Abreu was the White Sox’s designated hitter for the fifth consecutive game Tuesday night against Oakland. He hasn’t played first base since Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.
“He’s getting better,” Ventura said Tuesday before the White Sox’s 11-0 loss to Oakland. “There’s nothing structurally or anything to be concerned about. You just see him limp like that. It’s just soreness getting out of there. It’s getting better. I think that day off will probably help him.”
Abreu’s ankle has bothered him since spring training, but he has started all 41 games for the White Sox. When he had back-to-back days off during spring training, the extra rest helped his ankle.
“It is getting better, but you want him to get back out on the field,” Ventura said. “He’s tired of DHing. You want to get him back out on that field, (a two-day rest is) probably the best way to do it.”
Abreu leads the major leagues with 14 home runs, including a solo shot Monday night against the A’s. His 38 RBIs are tops in the American League.
Abreu’s leadoff home run in the ninth Monday night was an opposite-field blast to right field that cleared the fence in a hurry.
“He has a lot of power,” Ventura said. “You see him hit balls, the way they come off his bat is just different than a lot of people. He has power to all fields. Any park you play in is reachable for him anywhere in the park. If he puts it on the barrel, good stuff happens.
“(Hitting balls to all fields is) part of his makeup and how he goes about practicing and playing. He can pull it. He can hit it the other way. You see him swing a lot. It’s not like he’s taking a lot of pitches. He’s trying to do some damage when he goes up there.”