A day after Yasmandi Grandal and manager Tony La Russa said an injured list stint was unlikely, the White Sox catcher landed on the 10-day IL with lower back spasms.
Grandal, who exited Saturday’s loss to the Rangers with left hamstring tightness, said the spasms developed overnight on his left side and discomfort ran down his leg. He had difficulty walking at first but was moving around and feeling better Monday.
“It ends up being more of a lower back spasm and that’s what’s making everything else tight, which is probably the reason why the hamstring pulled,” Grandal said Monday.
“We just decided it was best to go on the 10-day just to get everything cleared out and that way by the time I come back, it’s full go. We won’t know how long it’s going to take, but if it takes five days maybe I’m able to go [on a rehab assignment at Triple-A] Charlotte and start getting ABs and catching down there.”
Pitching help on the way
Reliever Joe Kelly (hamstring strain) is expected to be activated Tuesday, manager Tony La Russa said, and Vince Velasquez (groin) will probably come off the IL to start Wednesday, a spot that opened when Lance Lynn was moved up to Monday and Dylan Cease to Tuesday.
The bullpen was depleted in Sunday’s loss to the Rangers in 11 innings after Michael Kopech exited with a sore knee after 13 pitches.
Johnny Cueto, who threw five innings of three-run ball Sunday after volunteering to pitch ahead of his scheduled start Monday in what La Russa called “one of the most impressive step-ups I’ve ever been around,” is penciled in for Saturday in Houston. Lucas Giolito will start Friday.
Kopech “a lot better”
Kopech had fluid drained from behind his right knee Monday, said he felt “a lot better” and is hopeful he will start Sunday night against the Astros.
Donaldson suspension upheld
Major League Baseball upheld Josh Donaldson’s one-game suspension, a penalty assessed after the Yankees third baseman made a remark Anderson about Jackie Robinson that La Russa called racist.
MLB special adviser John McHale upheld the penalty after hearing Donaldson’s appeal on Thursday, a person familiar with the discipline told The Associated Press. Donaldson’s fine was cut in half by McHale to $5,000. Donaldson will serve the penalty during the Yankees’ series opener against Tampa Bay Tuesday.
Contributing: Associated Press
