That’s a difficult move to make. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said as much at the MLB Winter Meetings. But he also wasn’t close-minded to the idea, however.

“Luis Robert is a very difficult player to move and expect that your club is going to get better because of it,” Getz said. “That being said, there might be a club out there that is willing to offer something that you feel can help you immediately and in the long term.

“But we’re talking about one of the best players in baseball, and we’re very fortunate to have him with the Chicago White Sox. So I have a tough time seeing him wearing another uniform next year.”

New reports show the odds of the White Sox trading Robert Jr. are diminishing. Jon Heyman shut down the speculation.

Still, it appears the White Sox are willing to part with anyone on their roster. Dylan Cease is expected by some to be moved this offseason. He’s still under club control for two more seasons and had a career season two years ago.

One prominent voice in the MLB stratosphere, Jon Morosi, told NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien earlier this offseason he could see the White Sox moving Robert Jr. before the season.

“I could see anybody [on the White Sox] getting traded,” Morosi said. “When you underachieve by the magnitude that they did, I have a hard time saying these players are untouchable.

“They’re all obviously good major league players, but the composition of them did not work. The whole was much lesser than the sum of the parts for the White Sox in 2023. And when you have that kind of a team, you should have nothing that says these players are off limits.

He also suggested that trading Robert Jr. would allow the White Sox to build their team up more quickly.

“Look at the Twins three or four years ago,” he said. “There was very little indication that they were going to be as good as they are right now, and I think it’s important to keep an eye on those types of clubs and how quickly you can get better.”

Robert Jr., 26, is young and valuable enough to believe he could last the in White Sox’ competitive window. What does that window look like? That remains to be seen following the offseason.

But Robert Jr. has been one of the few spotlights in what the White Sox admit have been a dark couple of seasons between 2022 and 2023. Should the White Sox rid Robert Jr. after flourishing during that time?

In 243 games between the last two seasons, Robert Jr. hit .272 with an impressive .811 OPS. He recorded 50 home runs and 136 RBIs to his name in that time frame, too.

Not to mention, he’s one of the more prolific defenders in the game. His ability to track and hawk the ball in center field is unprecedented. As Getz said, it would take an offer that would have to help the White Sox immediately and in the long term, promisingly, to move off Robert Jr.

Alas, that thought seems short-lived now, according to Heyman.

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In fact, one insider says that there is growing belief that the team will make every player available via the trade market….except for one.

Here is what USA Today’s Bob Nightengale had to say.

“(The White Sox) are making everyone available in trades except center fielder Luis Robert – including ace Dylan Cease – as they lower their payroll,” he said.

The hesitancy to move Robert is understandable. He just had a career-best season, with career highs in home runs (38), RBI’s (80) and stolen bases (20). He was named an All-Star for the first time, and also collected his first Silver Slugger award.

He also is under team control for the next four seasons. His pay does go up to $12.5 million for the 2024 season, but the team will control his rights through at least the end of the 2027 season thanks to two club options in the final two years of the contract.

As for Cease, the hurler had a great 2022 season but took a step backward in 2023, with a 7-9 record and a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts for the White Sox. He did have 214 strikeouts in 177 innings of work, but his WHIP soared to 1.42 as he gave up 46 more hits in seven fewer innings of work over 2022.

Cease is under team control through the end of the 2025 season.

In addition to their arbitration-eligible players, the White Sox currently have five veterans locked up to contracts for next season, including Yoan Moncada at $24.8 million and Andrew Benintendi at $17.1 million.

There are growing rumors they could look to part ways with several other key pieces, including outfielder Eloy Jimenez, who is set to make $13.8 million in the 2024 season.

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Robert Jr.’s 2023 campaign has earned the 26-year-old outfielder his first career Silver Slugger award, taking home the honor among American League outfielders alongside Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros and Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners.

Robert Jr. was selected to the All-Star team for the first time in 2023, amid a season in which he was inarguably the strongest performer on a White Sox team that went on to lose 101 games.

In addition to eye-popping power and speed numbers, La Pantera posted a .264/.315/.542 slash line, good for an excellent .857 OPS and 128 OPS+.

Though missing the end of the season due to injury, Robert Jr. stayed mostly healthy for the first time in his career through a full season, playing 145 games while putting up 5.0 WAR, both career highs.

With a Silver Slugger in 2023, Robert Jr. adds the prestigious honor to a Gold Glove, which the outfielder won in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when he also finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

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Robert Jr. endured a mild MCL sprain during Sunday’s game against the Boston Red Sox. He is expected to recover in 2-4 weeks. Lambert, who’s been on the injured list since Sep. 4, underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle on Sep. 20. He is expected to recover in 2-3 months.

Robert Jr. confirmed he hurt his leg sliding during Sunday’s game against the Red Sox.

On the bright side, he performed a career-best season this year at the plate and in center field this season. He will end his season having played 145 games, five games short of his goal of 150 games. However, it’s a career-best mark by 47 games. Impressive, to say the least, and a feat he’s proud to accomplish.

“I’m proud that I played as many games as I did,” Robert Jr. said through White Sox translator Billy Russo. “I know if I’m able to play every day I’ll do good things on the field. That’s why, to me, that’s the biggest accomplishment for me this year.”

Last weekend, Robert Jr. became the first White Sox player in franchise history to hit 35+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases in a single season. He’s also the first to accomplish those two feats along with 20+ doubles in a single season.

He’ll finish his season hitting 38 home runs, knocking in 80 RBIs and stealing 20 bases. His slash line is officially .264/.315/.542 for the season with an OPS of .857. He recorded five defensive runs saved, a high mark in center field. He’ll certainly be in the conversation for both a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award.

Lambert had a tough season, appearing in just 35 games over the season. He missed nearly the entirety of June and July while missing most of September with his ankle injury.

He’ll finish his season with a 5.26 ERA from 37.1 innings. He has 41 strikeouts and 20 walks to go along with that, too.

The White Sox have five games left on their season slate. They face the Diamondbacks on Tuesday as part of their five-game homestretch to finish the season.

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Robert stole first base in the first inning of the contest, but as he slid into the bag, it appeared his leg bent awkwardly as it contacted the base.

Robert was able to stay in the game for a short while, but was noticeably grimacing in center field in the bottom of the frame.

He ultimately was replaced by Trayce Thompson prior to the bottom of the second inning.

According to the White Sox, Robert left the game with left knee soreness and will be re-evaluated in Chicago when the team returns on Monday.

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Jackson Rutledge, a former first-round selection, allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in his first home start for Washington. The Nationals had lost six of seven.

Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada homered for Chicago, which has lost eight of 11 and 13 of 18.

Washington went ahead when the White Sox went to the bullpen in the seventh inning. Left-hander Aaron Bummer (4-5) allowed two of the four hitters he faced to reach, and was lifted when right-handed hitting Meneses was announced as a pinch hitter for Blake Rutherford.

Meneses remained in to face right-hander Bryan Shaw and lifted a 1-1 slider into the visitors’ bullpen in left-center for his 12th home run of the season.

Kyle Finnegan gave up a run in the ninth on Moncada’s one-out RBI single but avoided further damage to earn his 26th save.

Rutledge, the franchise’s first-round pick in 2019, made his first start at Nationals Park. While it was smoother than his big-league debut Wednesday at Pittsburgh, when he allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings, he had two missteps on the first pitch of an inning.

Robert led off the fourth with his second home run in as many nights, launching a changeup to left to open the scoring. It was Robert’s 36th homer of the season, second in the American League behind Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani.

Moncada blasted Rutledge’s first offering of the seventh to right to put Chicago up 2-1. Rutledge got Andrew Vaughn to ground out, then was lifted after yielding six hits and a walk. He struck out two.

Robert Garcia (2-2) replaced Rutledge and retired the only two hitters he faced.

White Sox starter José Ureña took a shutout into the sixth before surrendering Jacob Young’s leadoff triple and Lane Thomas’ sacrifice fly two batters later. Ureña allowed a run and four hits in six innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Cade Cavalli played catch for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March, making 25 throws from 45 feet. “I don’t know how else to describe it,” Cavalli said. “It was an awesome feeling.” … Washington placed OF Travis Blankenhorn (plantar fasciitis) on the 10-day injured list and recalled OF Blake Rutherford from Triple-A Rochester. Blankenhorn hit .161 with a homer and an RBI in 10 games this month. … INF/OF Jake Alu (sore left thumb) was out of the lineup.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Jesse Scholtens (1-9, 4.77 ERA), who is 0-6 with a 6.00 ERA in nine starts since becoming a regular member of Chicago’s rotation Aug. 1, takes the mound as the three-game series concludes.

Nationals: RHP Josiah Gray (7-12, 4.07) is winless in eight starts since July 27 but did strike out a season-high 10 in a 2-0 loss Thursday at Pittsburgh in his last outing.

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They’re downright historic.

Robert has hit 35 home runs, driven in 73 RBI’s, stolen 17 bases and scored 83 runs for the White Sox. He is slashing .270/.323/.553 in 550 total plate appearances for the South Siders.

In fact, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s Chuck Garfien, Robert is the only player in White Sox history to have at least 35 doubles, 35 home runs, 70 RBI’s, 80 runs scored and 15 stolen bases in a single season.

In hitting those numbers, Robert has joined a pretty select group of MLB players, including Alfonso Soriano, who achieved the feat four times. Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Carlos Beltrán and Albert Pujols also hit those marks in two seasons, as did Alex Rodriguez.

The most recent player to hit those specific benchmarks was Marcus Semien, who did so in 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Robert, who has 35 home runs and 71 RBI’s this season, was a late-scratch from Saturday’s game due to cramping, with Grifol saying the team won’t rush him through the ailment.

“We’re always going to err on the side of caution, especially where we’re at right now,” he said. “He means a heck of a lot to this team, to this lineup, on both sides of the ball. But there’s no need to rush him back.”

The hope at this point, Grifol said, is to have Robert back in the lineup against the Royals on Monday afternoon, but he made no concrete declarations about his availability.

Robert leads the team in nearly every offensive category, with 17 stolen bases, an OPS of .884, and a WAR of 5.2 this season.

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Robert Jr. will be reassessed tomorrow before their day game against the Tigers, according to the team.

Oscar Colas replaced Robert Jr. in center field and Gavin Sheets moved to right field in place of Colas. Andrew Vaughn entered the lineup taking over for Sheets at first base and batting in Robert Jr.’s place at third in the lineup.

This season, Robert Jr. is hitting .272 with 35 home runs and 71 RBIs.

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Robert, who prior to this season had hit 36 home runs in his entire career, hit the blast in the third inning of Wednesday’s 10-5 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards.

The outfielder now has 35 home runs and 70 RBI’s, but he also has a career-high 17 stolen bases, and that is what helped him into the club’s history books.

According to Stathead and NBC Sports Chicago’s Christopher Kamka, Robert is now the fourth player in White Sox history to hit 35 home runs and to steal at least 15 bases in the same season, and is just the second in the last 38 years.

Todd Frazier hit the milestone during the 2016 season when he hammered 40 home runs and stole 15 bases for the White Sox.

Prior to that, catcher Carlton Fisk had 37 homers and 17 steals in 1985, and Dick Allen had 37 home runs and 19 stolen bases in 1972.

Robert has already hit career highs in games played, runs scored, hits, home runs, RBI’s, walks and stolen bases this season.

He is slashing .271/.325/.561 for the White Sox, and has a WAR of 5.3, according to ESPN.

Speaking of WAR, Allen’s 1972 season will likely remain a notch about Robert’s in that particular area, as he posted a staggering 8.6 WAR for the Sox. He had 113 RBI’s that season, drew 99 walks, and had a mind-boggling OPS of 1.023.

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On top of 33 home runs and a stellar 134 OPS+ entering play tonight, Robert has emerged as one of the league’s premier outfield defenders this season as well.

Despite being below replacement level with the glove last season, Robert has compiled 1.1 defensive WAR thus far this year, and is bound to receive Gold Glove consideration in center field.

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Recently, former reliever Keynan Middleton shared his perspective from being on the team, saying there were “no rules.” He claimed a player missed PFP (pitchers fielding practice), another was sleeping in the bullpen and virtually anyone can do what they want.

It begs the question, are there leaders in the White Sox clubhouse?

“I don’t know,” Luis Robert Jr. said, giggling and smiling at the question. It’s possible he thought the question was corny. It’s plausible he didn’t feel like answering that question.

But he made no secret about how he sees his role on the team.

“I don’t see myself as a leader,” Robert Jr. said through translator Billy Russo. “I try to do my job on the field and do the things that we all are supposed to do and maybe be an example for others. But I don’t see myself as a leader.”

On the field, Robert Jr. is doing his job above and beyond. He has 32 home runs this season, hitting .271 with a .889 OPS. His bat is arguably the White Sox’ most valuable asset. And his defense is right up there with it.

In the clubhouse, it doesn’t seem like he’s had much part in it.

Middleton detailed many faltering aspects of the White Sox’ clubhouse. Along with Middleton’s claims, reports surfaced about an alleged fight between Yasmani Grandal and Tim Anderson in the clubhouse close to the All-Star break.

General manager Rick Hahn denied the claims, saying they were convoluted in the details. For example, the White Sox have a player who sleeps in the clubhouse, but is permitted to on account of his epilepsy. Either way, Hahn didn’t deny the White Sox have had clubhouse problems this season.

The White Sox are without obvious voices in the clubhouse. Liam Hendriks said the task of leading the ball club while being away with cancer treatments and recovering from his Tommy John surgery is tough. The White Sox traded Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn, who were veteran voices in the clubhouse, too.

It’s been a difficult year for the White Sox. But Robert Jr.’s answer puts the future of the White Sox’ clubhouse into question.

Who will step up to lead the team in the future? How do the White Sox plan to address their clubhouse issues without solidified leaders?

Those questions will need answers by next season.

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He knew it once the baseball came off the bat. After a swaggy bat toss, he turned to one Cubs fan sitting behind home plate — who was flipping him the bird — and silenced them with the “shush” emote. Check out the chilling video.

That home run marked his 32nd long ball of the season. He now has the fourth-most home runs in the majors this season, one above fifth-place Mookie Betts. He trails Matt Olson, Shohei Ohtani and Pete Alonso.

The White Sox earned an unexpected win over the Cubs on Tuesday, 5-3. The two teams finish the Crosstown Series at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.

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Robert drove a hanging slider from Julian Merryweather deep to left with two out in the seventh inning, giving the White Sox a 4-3 lead at a packed Wrigley Field. It was Robert’s team-high 32nd homer.

The All-Star outfielder finished with two hits in his first start since he sprained his right pinky finger during last week’s 9-2 victory over the New York Yankees.

Back home after a 3-3 road trip, the Cubs (61-58) wasted a chance to improve their positioning in the NL wild-card standings. Philadelphia, Miami and Cincinnati all lost.

Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki homered for the North Siders, and Kyle Hendricks pitched six innings of three-run ball. It was the first loss in a breakout season for Merryweather (4-1).

After Touki Toussaint departed in the fifth, four White Sox relievers combined for five innings of two-hit ball. Lane Ramsey (1-0) got his first major league win, and Gregory Santos earned his fourth save of the season by striking out three in 1 2/3 innings.

Andrew Benintendi tacked on an insurance run with a two-out RBI double in the ninth, helping the White Sox (48-72) improve to 2-1 against the Cubs this year. The crosstown rivals close out their season series on Wednesday night.

Happ gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead with a two-run drive to right-center in the first. It was his fourth homer this month and No. 14 on the season.

Elvis Andrus responded with a two-run single in the second for the White Sox. But Suzuki tied it at 3 with his 11th homer, a 406-foot drive to left in the fourth.

Suzuki also robbed Andrew Vaughn of a potential RBI single with a sliding catch in right in the third. Hendricks celebrated the play by clapping into his glove.

NO GO

Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman is dealing with some right rib discomfort, delaying his return from the injured list.

Stroman had been sidelined by right hip inflammation. The All-Star was slated to start Wednesday against the White Sox, but manager David Ross said Stroman had some discomfort in the rib area after throwing a bullpen session Sunday in Toronto. Javier Assad “more than likely” will start the series finale against the South Siders, Ross said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: SS Tim Anderson was scratched because of neck stiffness.

Cubs: RHP Nick Burdi (appendectomy) pitched a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa. … RHP Brad Boxberger (forearm strain) got one out in a rehab appearance with the Arizona Complex League Cubs on Monday. He was charged with three runs, two earned, and one hit. … LHP Brandon Hughes (left knee inflammation) threw a bullpen session on Monday. He plans to throw another one later this week.

UP NEXT

Assad (2-2, 3.12 ERA) pitched seven sparkling innings in a 6-2 victory at Toronto on Friday. Right-hander Mike Clevinger (5-5, 3.55 ERA) goes for the White Sox on Wednesday.

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He is also the sixth White Sox player in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Adding on to his season’s exclusivity, Robert Jr., surprisingly, is the only White Sox center fielder in history to record 30 home runs in a single season.

Ohtani and Matt Olson co-lead the league with 40 home runs. Robert Jr. is tied-fifth with Mookie Betts for 31 home runs on the season. Ronald Acuña Jr. isn’t far off the duo. He leads the league with a whopping 53 stolen bases and currently has 26 home runs.

Robert Jr. is executing the best season of his career. He’s already played more games than he ever has in a single season (112). He’s slashing .271/.325/.563 with an .889 OPS. His 4.6 WAR is the 10th best in MLB.

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His X-rays were negative and the team designated him day-to-day.

Trayce Thompson replaced Robert Jr. in center field.

Robert Jr. stole two bases in a row before jamming his hand into third base — seemingly the reason he left the game.

He is four stolen bases away from becoming the second player in White Sox history to record 30 home runs, 30 doubles and 20 stolen bases in a single season.

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Clarke Schmidt (8-6) pitched neatly into the sixth inning and combined with two relievers for 13 strikeouts, helping the playoff-contending Yankees came away with the win after losing three of four.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a two-run double and scored during New York’s four-run fourth against Touki Toussaint (1-5), and the Yankees scored three more in the eighth behind the long balls by Higashioka and Judge off Tanner Banks.

Higashioka, batting for Ben Rortvedt, hit a two-run drive for his first career pinch-hit homer and the first by a Yankee this season. Judge made it 7-1 with his 21st homer.

Schmidt gave up one run and four hits over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one.

Michael King tossed 2 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two hits and striking out five without a walk, and New York came out on top after losing three of the first four meetings with the White Sox.

Chicago’s Luis Robert Jr. led off the fourth with his 31st home run. But the White Sox came up short after winning three in a row.

Toussaint struck out nine in five innings. He allowed six hits and walked five.

New York took control in the fourth while sending 10 batters to the plate.

Kiner-Falefa followed back-to-back singles by Giancarlo Stanton and Billy McKinney with a two-run double. He scored on Harrison Bader’s single past a diving first baseman Andrew Vaughn.

Jake Bauers added a sacrifice fly to the center-field warning track with the bases loaded, making it 4-0.

TRANSACTION

The White Sox reinstated right-hander Gregory Santos from the bereavement list and optioned righty Edgar Navarro to Triple-A Charlotte.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: Manager Pedro Grifol opted to hold SS Tim Anderson (bruised left forearm) out of the lineup after initialing penciling him in. The two-time All-Star exited Monday’s game after being hit by a pitch. Anderson is also appealing a six-game suspension by Major League Baseball for fighting Cleveland slugger José Ramírez on Saturday.

UP NEXT

RHP Luis Severino (2-6, 7.74 ERA) was set to start Wednesday, though manager Aaron Boone wanted to get through Tuesday’s game before making an announcement. RHP Mike Clevinger (4-5, 3.72 ERA) pitches for Chicago.

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Luis Robert Jr., Andrew Vaughn and Oscar Colas were the three to hit home runs. Robert Jr. became the first White Sox center fielder to hit 30 home runs in a season with his homer.

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He became the first White Sox center fielder to hit 30 home runs in a single season, hitting No. 30 off Noah Syndergaard in the third inning of Saturday’s White Sox-Guardians contest.

Robert Jr. is having a career year in his fourth year in the league.

He earned his first All-Star nod this season, also participating in the Home Run Derby and reaching the semifinal round.

This season, he’s hitting .267 from the plate with 30 home runs and 68 RBIs. With his 30th home run, he reached fourth-place in MLB for most home runs this season. His .870 OPS also ranks 12th in MLB this season.

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Adding detail to the report, Jon Heyman, and Levine, reported the asking price for Dylan Cease, who’s the most notable player not named Luis Robert Jr. without protection, would be rightfully “enormous.”

The White Sox are in the midst of a sale. They’ve already traded Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn, Reynaldo Lopez, Joe Kelly, and Kendall Graveman, receiving a flurry of prospects in return.

Cease, outside of Robert Jr., represents the team’s most valuable player. One season ago, Cease finished runner-up in the AL Cy Young voting solely behind Justin Verlander. He held a blistering 2.20 ERA and struck out an unthinkable 227 batters.

Teams understand the value Cease holds, too. Cease, 27, still has two more seasons of arbitration before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2026. He’s earning $5.7 million this season with the White Sox.

He’s not performing his best this season, however. Through 22 starts and 119.1 innings, he’s holding onto a 4.15 ERA and 1.341 WHIP. He’s struck out 143 batters, yet walked 49 batters. His command has been an issue and a pitfall to last and this year’s respective outings.

Though, Cease’s underwhelming season has not deterred teams from showing insurmountable interest in him.

But the White Sox have shut the door on any and all offers for Cease, up until this point.

Bob Nightengale reported a week ago all interested suitors have been similarly declined. Jeff Passan wrote the White Sox “could” trade Cease, but it would be more likely if the White Sox went “full punt” mode.

Despite opposing interests, it doesn’t seem likely the White Sox would be willing to sell Cease. Unless the front office receives an offer written in gold, he’ll likely remain on the South Side.

That doesn’t mean the White Sox will pack it up and call it a day. There’s work left to be done.

For starters, if they’re looking to trade expiring contracts — something general manager Rick Hahn mentioned worth doing — they have a few left on the docket.

“Unfortunately the ’23 season isn’t working out the way we wanted,” Hahn said Wednesday after trading Giolito. “So I think it makes prudent business and strategic sense to add future assets for those becoming free agents.”

Yasmani Grandal, Keynan Middleton, Mike Clevinger and Elvis Andrus will be free agents after this season. Be on the lookout for any of these names to be moved before the clock strikes.

The MLB trade deadline ends at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

Stay tuned.

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Chicago’s victory came on the tail end of a day in which it dealt pitchers Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly and Kendall Graveman to continue a deadline selling spree.

“It’s tough seeing some teammates you’ve had for many years leave and go to a different team,” Burger said. “But we love the group we have here and can just take it a day at a time and try to go out there and leave it all on the field and not think about anything else.”

Toussaint (1-3) allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out four. Tanner Banks pitched three innings of two-hit ball and Gregory Santos notched his second save of the year.

“He’s been really consistent,” manager Pedro Grifol said of Toussaint. “He’s pounding the strike zone. He looks like a big leaguer out there. … I’m happy he’s here. I’m happy we can take a look at him for two months and possibly build with him.”

Robert hit his 29th homer off Xzavion Curry (3-1) to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the first. After hitting two homers on Thursday, Burger continued his hot stretch with his 25th homer off Daniel Norris in the sixth, giving the White Sox a 2-0 advantage.

“It’s kind of what I said when I hit my 20th,” Burger said. “It’s a stepping stone to the next goal. Obviously it feels good, but now I want to get to the next milestone.”

Elvis Andrus, pinch running for Eloy Jiménez, scored from third on a single by Oscar Colás to make it 3-0 in the eighth.

Josh Naylor had a double and two singles, accounting for half the Guardians’ six hits.

Cleveland’s Terry Francona remained one win away from passing Hall of Famer Casey Stengel for the 13th-most wins by a manager in MLB history.

DEADLINE DEALS

Hours before first pitch, the White Sox dealt right-handers Lynn and Kelly to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a package that sent OF Trayce Thompson and minor league pitchers Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure to Chicago.

The White Sox also traded right-handed reliever Graveman to the Houston Astros for minor league C Korey Lee, and called up RHP Declan Cronin from Triple-A Charlotte.

After his latest pair of trades, GM Rick Hahn could sell more before Tuesday’s trade deadline.

“We still have players of interest to other clubs and we’re still having talks,” Hahn said. “I don’t even know what day it is, but it seems like there’s a few days left until the deadline, until we get to Tuesday. So, we’re going to continue talking, and if there’s something that makes sense, we’ll pull the trigger.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Andrew Vaughn (bone bruise) missed a second consecutive game, but manager Pedro Grifol said he expects him back in the lineup on Saturday. … 3B Yoan Moncada (back) took a day off after playing in three straight games since returning from the IL on Tuesday. He’ll play on Saturday, Grifol said. … The newly acquired Thompson (oblique) is “close to returning” from the 60-day IL, Hahn said.

Guardians: INF Tyler Freeman (shoulder) returned to the lineup in the eighth after missing Thursday’s contest.

UP NEXT

In the third meeting of the four-game series, LHP Logan Allen (4-3, 3.39 ERA) gets the nod for the Guardians. The White Sox have yet to determine a starter amid a deadline shakeup in their rotation.

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Facing Jose Quintana in the first inning of the game against the New York Mets, Robert stepped to the plate with Tim Anderson on first base, and what first appeared to be a bloop single was something much wilder.

The slow-motion replay shows Robert initially hitting the ball near the handle of the bat, but due to the bat speed, he also ended up hitting the ball off the very top of the barrel, which propelled it just far enough to drop into left field for a hit.

It wasn’t the greatest start for Quintana, the former White Sox hurler who was making his debut with the Mets on Thursday, but he did manage to hold the South Siders to just one run in the inning.

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How many RBIs does the All-Star center fielder have?

57.

“That should be 28 home runs, 70 RBIs, at least,” Chuck Garfien said on NBC Sports Chicago’s White Sox Postgame Live show.

That’s abysmal. And it’s not entirely Robert Jr.’s fault. Though, he’s not hitting well with runners in scoring position (RISP). He holds a .237/.330/.461 slash line with RISP. Just four of his home runs and about half of his RBIs (28) are with runners in scoring position.

But it’s the White Sox offense that’s hurting his chances at propelling his RBI numbers during an outstanding, dazzling season at the plate for the Sox center fielder. A solid number of his homers are solo shots.

“It’s a lot of wasted home runs,” Garfien said.

This season, the White Sox are averaging 4.23 runs and 13.42 bases per game, good for 22nd and 21st in the league, respectively. Their offense comes and goes, but it’s not consistent enough to generate traffic to home plate.

And it’s unfortunate for the reputable hitters on the White Sox. Similarly, Jake Burger has 21 home runs this season, and just 47 RBIs.

To put it into perspective a step further, Shohei Ohtani leads MLB with 35 home runs; he has 76 RBIs. Matt Olson’s 30 home runs rank second in the league; he has 77 RBIs.

How’s this? There are 26 players who have equal or fewer home runs than Robert Jr., but more RBIs. Robert Jr.’s RBIs this season ranked 26th in the league.

It’s a microcosm of the White Sox offense this season and one of the reasons they have struggled to capture ground in the AL Central.

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Baty contributed an RBI groundout during a four-run fourth and turned in a couple of fine defensive plays at third base. Running on a full-count pitch, he also scored from first base on Brandon Nimmo’s two-out double.

Fellow rookie Francisco Álvarez grounded an RBI single in the fourth, and Luis Guillorme added a sacrifice fly. New York has won three straight following a four-game skid, and nine of 13 overall.

The 40-year-old Verlander (4-5) gave up three hits on 100 pitches for his 248th win. He struck out seven and walked one.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner needed only 59 pitches to get through six innings. He permitted just one baserunner — Andrew Benintendi’s leadoff single in the fourth — before All-Star slugger Luis Robert Jr. homered with one out in the seventh.

It took 30 pitches for Verlander to navigate that inning, but he breezed through a 1-2-3 eighth and Adam Ottavino tossed a perfect ninth to finish a game that lasted just 2 hours, 6 minutes.

Baty homered to center field off starter Touki Toussaint (0-3) leading off the third. It was the seventh homer of the season for Baty, who has connected in consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Toussaint gave up five runs and four hits in six innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: RHP Liam Hendriks (elbow inflammation) and RHP Mike Clevinger (biceps inflammation) faced hitters from the Citi Field mound in a simulated game. Hendriks threw 17 pitches and Clevinger made 45. … 1B Andrew Vaughn sat out after fouling a ball off his foot Tuesday night. He was available to pinch hit, manager Pedro Grifol said. … OF Eloy Jiménez (left groin) sat out again but was available off the bench. He is expected to start Thursday afternoon. Jiménez exited Sunday’s game at Atlanta in the first inning. … 3B Yoán Moncada (back) could need another four to seven days on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte before returning to the majors, Grifol said.

Mets: RF Starling Marte sat out for the third time in four games because of migraine headaches and vomiting. He was scheduled to see a specialist in the afternoon. … 2B/OF Jeff McNeil (hip) started in right field and was feeling fine, manager Buck Showalter said.

UP NEXT

José Quintana finally makes his Mets debut Thursday against the White Sox, his first major league team. The left-hander has been sidelined all season following rib surgery. He signed a $26 million, two-year contract as a free agent in the offseason. RHP Michael Kopech (3-8, 4.47 ERA) pitches for Chicago.

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Dylan Cease won for the first time in nearly two months, Luis Robert Jr. had four hits that included a two-run homer and the White Sox beat Atlanta 8-1 on Sunday.

Reynaldo López, Aaron Bummer and Jesse Scholtens finished a five-hitter and ended the Braves’ streak of consecutive games with home runs at a franchise-record 28. Atlanta had won 11 consecutive series.

“That was just kind of one of those that got away from us,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Their pitching was pretty good. Their bullpen has got some nice arms in it. It was just a little too much to try to overcome today.”

Cease (4-3) had eight straight no-decisions since beating Cleveland on May 23, the most within a season in White Sox history. He allowed one run and three hits in five innings.

“It just shows we can play with anybody,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said.

Matt Olson had a run-scoring single in the third, increasing his NL-leading RBIs total to 77. Atlanta had two on and one out in the fifth before Cease struck out Austin Riley and retired Olson on a flyout.

Atlanta had been 7-0 in the decisive third games of three-game series this season.

Chicago had 14 hits, its most since June 28, and took two of three for its first series win since June 23-25 against Boston.

“To me, that’s probably the best team in baseball,” Grifol said of the Braves. “They don’t have any weaknesses, in my opinion.”

Jake Burger hit a two-run homer and Robert had three singles before hitting a two-run homer off Michael Soroka in the sixth, Robert’s 27th home run this season.

Andrew Benintendi had three hits and scored three runs.

ALLARD LEAVES WITH INJURY

Braves left-hander Kolby Allard (0-1) was pulled with left shoulder tightness after allowing four runs and seven hits in 1 1/2 innings. Snitker and an athletic trainer visited the mound in the second following five hits by the the White Sox in the inning.

“He threw a pitch and had some tingling in his fingers,” Snitker said, adding Allard was scheduled for an MRI. “We’ll find out after that what’s going on.”

Chicago took a 4-0 lead in the second. Andrew Vaughn singled and scored on Burger’s 461-foot homer to center field, Chicago’s longest home run this season. Burger hit the go-ahead homer in Saturday night’s 6-5 win.

BULLPEN DEBUT

Soroka made his first relief outing since 2016 at Class A Rome. He entered in the fifth and allowed two runs and three hits with three strikeouts in three innings.

Snitker said Soroka, whose last start was on July 5, when he allowed five hits and no runs in 4 2/3 innings in an 8-1 win at Cleveland, needed to pitch. Snitker wouldn’t say if Soroka could be used again in relief.

“We wanted to get him some work and I think it was good for him to work out of the bullpen,” Snitker said. “I think he did a fine job. He threw the ball extremely well. … I think we leave everything open, quite honestly.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: RF Eloy Jiménez left in the second inning with left groin tightness. Grifol said he doesn’t expect Jiménez to be available “in the next few days, for sure. … It doesn’t look good for the next three, four, five days.” Gavin Sheets pinch-hit for Jiménez and remained in the game in right field.

Braves: LF Eddie Rosario (right hamstring tightness) was given the day off after leaving Saturday night’s game. Sam Hilliard filled in and was 0-for-2 in his first start since May 23.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Lucas Giolito (6-5, 3.44) is scheduled to start when Chicago opens another series against an NL East team on Wednesday against RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-3, 5.16) and the New York Mets.

Braves: Following a day off on Monday, RHP Bryce Elder (7-2, 2.97) is scheduled to start in Tuesday night’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have not announced their starting pitcher.

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A group of MLB.com experts took to ranking the MVP standings for each league, placing Robert Jr. second in the American League race.

The 25-year-old center fielder earned the first All-Star of his career this season. He has the third-most home runs in MLB (26) and the fourth-highest defensive runs saved value for center fielders (6).

He’s also playing the healthiest season of his career (knock on wood). He’s played in 90 games this season, which is already more than both his first and second seasons, and eight games from tying his third-year outing.

Unfortunately, Shohei Ohtani presents a difficult hurdle for Robert Jr. to jump to earn the MVP award in the American League. On the brink of free agency, Ohtani has the highest OPS in MLB (1.046) with a 3.50 ERA on the bump through 18 starts this season.

Amid a possible selloff at the MLB trade deadline for the White Sox, the NY Post’s Jon Heyman reassured the Sox would likely make Robert Jr. unavailable for trade. This is a wise move, as he is arguably one of the league’s best players this season with loads of potential for his young age.

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On Tuesday, the White Sox announced Robert Jr. would not play in the MLB All-Star game after experiencing calf tightness from the Home Run Derby the day prior.

Robert told the Chicago Sun-Times he wasn’t worried about the injury on Tuesday.

“I feel good today. It isn’t anything serious,” Robert texted to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“It is disappointing, but the most important thing for me is to be healthy and ready for Friday when we start the second half. I am sure I’ll be 100% by Friday.”

Despite concern about the Home Run Derby injury affecting his start to the second season, it’s now laid to rest.

Hopefully, the center fielder can continue his hot streak at the plate. He is tied with Pete Alonso for the league’s third-most home runs to this point (26). He also has the fifth-highest slugging percentage to this point (.569).

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The White Sox announced the news with details ahead of the coveted Midsummer Classic.

Despite the setback, the first-time All-Star isn’t worried that his hiccup from the derby will affect his start to the second half of the season.

“I feel good today. It isn’t anything serious,” Robert texted to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“It is disappointing, but the most important thing for me is to be healthy and ready for Friday when we start the second half. I am sure I’ll be 100% by Friday.”

Robert Jr. performed reasonably well in the derby, all things considered. He knocked out Adley Rutschman in the first round, despite the Orioles switch-hitter knocking 27 out of the park. Robert Jr. hit 28 homers after Rutschman, besting him in bonus time.

Randy Arozarena eliminated Robert Jr. in the semifinal, smacking 35 into the bleachers at T-Mobile Park. Robert Jr. notched 22, failing to earn the extra 30-second bonus and advancing to the final, too.

The White Sox restart the season on Friday on the road against the Atlanta Braves.

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Heyman reports the White Sox are protecting four players from trade: Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr. — who’s a first-time All-Star this season –, Andrew Vaughn and Eloy Jiménez. Unless a team offers an irrefutable package for any of these players, it’s unlikely they will be traded at the deadline.

As for the rest of the bunch, it’s open season. Lucas Giolito, Keynan Middleton and Reynaldo Lopez figure to be the first names on the block, according to Heyman’s report. Heyman listed the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers as potential suitors, mentioning Giolito could land in his hometown Los Angeles with the Dodgers, too.

Yoán Moncada and Michael Kopech, two higher-caliber players on the White Sox, are not in “that same close-to-untouchable category,” says Heyman. Though, the right offer would likely need to come for the Sox to pull the trigger on sending their starting third baseman and one of their more valuable starters, elsewhere.

Heyman’s report coincides closely with that of The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, who usually — like Heyman — doesn’t miss far from the mark on these kinds of reports.

Rosenthal reported the Sox are near the conclusion of becoming sellers at the deadline. The mere caveat of his report was designating which players the White Sox could deem off-limits. He wrote Kopech and Kendall Graveman could be on the short list of untouchables, but it’s never entirely certain.

If a team truly desires a certain player, and sends an overwhelming offer, it’d be difficult to say no.

Two players to keep tabs on are Tim Anderson and Andrew Benintendi. The latter hasn’t been included in trade rumors, likely because the White Sox inked him to the franchise’s most lucrative deal last winter. Anderson may have trouble garnering trade interest, considering he hit .152 in June and is currently slashing .223/.259/.263 this season.

The name of the game here is value. The White Sox aren’t entering a total selloff. If they become sellers, they will likely be looking for the right price on their players to help bolster their assets and farm system.

As for the players on expiring contracts, however, such as Giolito, Middleton, Lopez and Joe Kelly, the front office will probably be more lenient with their respective valuations.

The White Sox are 16 games under .500, holding the fourth spot in the AL Central and standing eight games back on the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. At this point, a roster shakeup is inevitable for the Sox, who have struggled to regain traction in the division after starting the season 7-21.

Pay close attention to the White Sox, as the Aug. 1 trade deadline could mark a new leaf for the South Side.

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According to the White Sox, Robert began to feel tightness in his right calf during the first round of Monday’s Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park.

Robert underwent an MRI in Seattle, and is listed as “day-to-day,” according to the White Sox.

As a result, he will not participate in Tuesday’s game, and will be reevaluated before the season resumes on Friday in Atlanta, the team said.

Robert has already set a career high in home runs with 26 in the first-half of the season, slashing .271/.330/.569 in 339 total at-bats.

He leads the White Sox in virtually every offensive category, including Wins Above Replacement with 4.1.

The MLB All-Star Game will get underway at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and will air on Fox.

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The star athlete has always been an interesting version of the White Sox’ “Change the Game” marketing movement. While the chain necklaces, TikTok dances and overall aesthetic match the South Side vibes of teammates like Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez and Yasmani Grandal, he moves at a calmer pace with a quieter confidence. His talent is flashy and in your face, but his personality never has been.

This juxtaposition hasn’t always come off well, especially when he’s spent a bulk of his early career struggling to find a groove at the plate coming back from injury after injury. When a player has as much talent as Robert Jr., it comes across as lazy and disinterested. Most of the time, it’s an unfair criticism — a misjudgment of the type of person and player he actually is.

All eyes on him at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Robert Jr. walked onstage with the calm strut of swag White Sox fans have become familiar with over the last four years — the same one that’s often been criticized. Only this time, the first-time All-Star looked almost bashful, trying and failing to hide an ear-to-ear smile as he stared down his first-round opponent, Adley Rutschman.

He looked at home onstage with the likes of Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Pete Alonso, like he knew he belonged. Like the hypothetical, “If Luis Robert can stay healthy…” discourse had finally reached a clear-cut conclusion.

The top seed in the field, Robert Jr. wowed in round one as he effortlessly mashed 27 dingers to match Rutschman’s total in regulation, and then one more in bonus time to advance to the semifinals. His cool and casual approach seemed to impress viewers on Twitter watching at home.

Rays’ Randy Arozarena went on to best him in the semifinals with 35 home runs to Robert Jr.’s 22.

While there was no glory in victory for White Sox fans Monday night, there was glimmer of hope in watching the most promising prospect of the rebuild flourish on the same stage as some of baseball’s biggest stars. Perhaps the glory is knowing the truth about what Robert Jr. can be when his health is no longer a hypothetical.

For Robert Jr., the glory is finally being understood as the calm, cool and quiet star he’s always been. The only star he knows how to be.

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Paying homage to the slugger’s nickname, “La Pantera,” the show-stopping piece of equipment features a panther head wrapped around the barrel with large, glowing yellowing eyes and mouth full of fangs. A bulky chain, similar to the one Robert Jr. wears under his jersey, drips from the panther’s neck down the side of the bat. Cuba’s national flag is painted in the shape of the number “88” on the lower barrel.

All of the bats being used in Monday’s Home Run Derby were manufactured by Victus Sports.

Here’s how to watch tune in to the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby.

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White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. will highlight the 2023 Home Run Derby, as he earned the No. 1 seed by virtue of his torrid first-half of the 2023 season.

In 339 at-bats, Robert has 26 home runs and 51 RBI’s, and has already doubled his previous career-high for long balls.

Here’s how fans at home can watch Monday’s Home Run Derby.

Air Time/TV Information:

The 2023 Home Run Derby will start at 7 p.m. Central and will air live on ESPN. The StatCast broadcast will air on ESPN2.

Streaming Information:

Fans can stream the derby live on ESPN+. Cable Subscribers can stream it on the ESPN app with a cable login. FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV and YouTube TV will also carry the event.

For more information about the 2023 Home Run Derby, including this year’s participants, competition format, tiebreaker rules and prizes, click here.

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Nolan Arenado hit a pair of two-run homers for St. Louis, which took a 5-0 lead in the third and led 5-1 in the fifth when Montgomery departed abruptly. With a 2-1 count on Elvis Andrus, Montgomery tapped the back of his right leg with his glove. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol and trainers went to the mound, and Montgomery walked slowly to the dugout.

JoJo Romero got the final two outs in the fifth but was charged with three of Chicago’s five runs in the sixth. Andre Pallante gave up two more runs to cough up the lead.

Arenado put the Cardinals back ahead with his homer in the seventh off Keynon Middleton (2-0). In the bottom half, Kyle Leahy (0-1) gave up Robert’s blast and departed with the bases loaded. Chris Stratton came on and walked Zach Remillard to put the White Sox ahead to stay.

Jake Burger homered and drove in three runs for Chicago, and Remillard finished with three RBIs. Kendall Graveman worked around a single and walk in the ninth for his seventh save.

Arenado has gone deep three times in his last two games and has six extra-base hits in his last three. The third-baseman has 19 home runs this season. The two-homer game was his second this season and the 24th of his career.

Burger homered off Montgomery in the fifth, his 19th. He had a two-run double in the sixth.

Montgomery allowed one run on three hits in 4 1/3 innings. He was seeking his fifth straight win after seven consecutive losses.

White Sox starter Dylan Cease allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings in his eighth straight no-decision.

ROSTER MOVE

St. Louis placed INF/OF Tommy Edman on the 10-day injured list with right wrist inflammation and recalled INF José Fermín from Triple-A Memphis. The switch-hitter is batting .239 with seven home runs, 29 RBIs and a team-leading 14 stolen bases. The NL Gold Glove winner at second base in 2021, Edman has played second, shortstop, center field and right field this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Marmol said RHP Adam Wainwright had an injection in his strained right shoulder. The 41-year-old went on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday after giving up seven runs in a 15-2 loss at Miami on Tuesday. … C Willson Contreras didn’t start after having a dental procedure Friday morning in Chicago. Iván Herrera was behind the plate.

UP NEXT

Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (4-5, 4.51 ERA) starts Saturday. The White Sox had not yet named a starter.

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For Luis Robert Jr., they underlined his breakout season, so far, while calling him an “ideal” home run derby candidate.

“Robert is in the midst of a breakout year as he has turned his massive tools into big-time production, highlighted by his 25 home runs in just half of a season. Standing 6-foot-2, 220 pounds with light-tower power, Robert seems like an ideal Home Run Derby competitor,” ESPN wrote.

Robert has greatly impressed from the plate this season. He has the third-most home runs in MLB and the third-best slugging percentage. Ever since he broke his slump in April, hitting .310 in May and 11 home runs in June, he’s kept the fire burning.

On the flip side, his average home run distance this season (406 feet) is 64th in MLB. His average velocity (89.1) is also an underwhelming figure. White Sox fans are well aware of his tendency to chase balls, too.

Fortunately, when it comes to the Home Run Derby, his chase rate doesn’t play much of a factor.

Robert Jr. will face Adley Rutschman in the first round, then the winner of Randy Arozarena and Adolis Garcia, both of whom convinced Robert Jr. to participate in the competition.

“I talked with a couple of my countrymen,” Robert Jr. said through translator Billy Russo on Wednesday. “They convinced me. Randy (Arozarena) and Adolis (García) and then I said, ‘You know what? Let’s do it.'”

The other participants joining Robert Jr. include Pete Alonso, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Julio Rodríguez. The derby takes place in Seattle on July 10 at T-Mobile Park. Robert Jr. will make his All-Star and Derby debut.

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He will face off against Adley Rutschman in the first round of the tournament.

Rutschman, the Baltimore Orioles catcher, has his 11 home runs this season. Robert Jr., on the other hand, has 25 home runs this season (third in MLB), including 11 in June alone.

Rutschman is slashing .272/.375/.417 from the plate with 84 hits, 12 of which are doubles. This season marks just his second year in the majors.

Robert Jr. is a well-deserving candidate for the tournament. He’s hit 25 home runs this season, the third-most in MLB, and second-most in the American League trailing only Shohei Ohtani. His .580 slugging percentage this season also equates to MLB’s third-best value.

His average home run distance this season is 406 feet, according to Baseball Savant’s Statcast graphic. That slots 64th in the majors. His hardest-hit ball came off his bat at 113.6 miles per hour, which ranks in the top 50 for hardest-hit balls this year.

On July 4th, Robert launched a 450-foot home run against the Blue Jays that flew 111+ miles per hour off his bat. He stuck around in the batter’s box to boast his left-field blast, underscoring the incredible hitting run he’s strung together. Robert Jr. hit 11 home runs in June, tied for the second-most in MLB.

When asked about his celebratory pause in the box, Robert Jr. couldn’t quite pinpoint his impromptu celebration.

“It’s the first time I did something like that,” Robert Jr. said. “Even when I got back to the dugout, Eloy asked, ‘Hey, what happened?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know. It was just a reaction.’ I don’t know how I did it or why I did it.”

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“I talked with a couple of my countrymen,” Robert Jr. said through translator Billy Russo on Wednesday. “They convinced me. Randy (Arozarena) and Adolis (García) and then I said, ‘You know what? Let’s do it.'”

Robert Jr. joins a loaded cast, including his friend, Arozarena, Pete Alonso, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Julio Rodríguez and Adley Rutschman. One more member in the tournament has yet to be announced.

What will it be like for Robert Jr. to play against his friends and fellow Cuba native in Arozarena?

“That’s why I told him ‘Can you imagine playing each other in the first round?’ It will be fun,” Robert Jr. said.

Robert Jr. will also participate in the All-Star game as the White Sox representative.

Many White Sox fans clamored for Jake Burger to participate in the home run derby. But to the victor, apparently, goes the spoils. And Robert’s been the victor for the White Sox this season.

Robert Jr. is a well-deserving candidate for the tournament. He’s hit 25 home runs this season, the third-most in MLB, and second-most in the American League trailing only Shohei Ohtani. His .580 slugging percentage this season also equates to MLB’s third-best value.

His average home run distance this season is 406 feet, according to Baseball Savant’s Statcast graphic. That slots 64th in the majors. His hardest-hit ball came off his bat at 113.6 miles per hour, which ranks in the top 50 for hardest-hit balls this year.

On July 4th, Robert launched a 450-foot home run against the Blue Jays that flew 111+ miles per hour off his bat. He stuck around in the batter’s box to boast his left-field blast, underscoring the incredible hitting run he’s strung together. Robert Jr. hit 11 home runs in June, tied for the second-most in MLB.

When asked about his celebratory pause in the box, Robert Jr. couldn’t quite pinpoint his impromptu celebration.

“It’s the first time I did something like that,” Robert Jr. said. “Even when I got back to the dugout, Eloy asked, ‘Hey, what happened?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know. It was just a reaction.’ I don’t know how I did it or why I did it.”

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As mentioned, Robert Jr. will participate in the long ball competition and the All-Star game as the White Sox representative.

Many White Sox fans clamored for Jake Burger to participate in the competition. But to the victor, apparently, goes the spoils. And Robert’s been the victor for the White Sox this season.

Robert Jr. is a well-deserving candidate for the tournament. He’s hit 25 home runs this season, the third-most in MLB, and second-most in the American League trailing only Shohei Ohtani. His .580 slugging percentage this season also equates to MLB’s third-best value.

His average home run distance this season is 406 feet, according to Baseball Savant’s Statcast graphic. That slots 64th in the majors. His hardest-hit ball came off his bat at 113.6 miles per hour, which ranks in the top 50 for hardest-hit balls this year.

On July 4th, Robert launched a 450-foot home run against the Blue Jays that flew 111+ miles per hour off his bat. He stuck around in the batter’s box to boast his left-field blast, underscoring the incredible hitting run he’s strung together. Robert Jr. hit 11 home runs in June, tied for the second-most in MLB.

The other participants joining Robert Jr. include Pete Alonso, Randy Arozarena, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Julio Rodríguez, and Adley Rutschman. One more participant is awaiting the announcement. The Home Run Derby tournament bracket will be announced Wednesday on ESPN at 7 p.m. CST.

The derby takes place in Seattle on July 10 at T-Mobile Park. Robert Jr. will make his All-Star and derby debut.

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Instead, Blue Jays’ Chris Bassitt hung a 73-mph cookie right down the middle and was punished with a Fourth of July fireworks show in the seventh inning.

The 450-foot home run from Luis Robert Jr. is the team’s longest of the season. It also put the White Sox ahead for the first and last time on Tuesday

The All-Star center fielder is having his best full half-season to date, slashing .276/.336/.580 in 84 games, and .320/.393/.740 in the last 30 days. His 25 home runs, .580 slugging percentage and .916 OPS are each second in the American League behind Shohei Ohtani.

Alas, a three-run blast is rarely enough to win a ballgame, even with a good outing from Lucas Giolito, who allowed two runs on four hits through six innings.

The White Sox would surrender the lead in the top of the eighth inning on a two-run shot from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Joe Kelly’s second blown lead in as many appearances. 

The White Sox will look to tie the series Wednesday at 7 p.m. on NBC Sports Chicago.

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Guerrero gave Toronto a 4-3 lead when he connected against Joe Kelly (1-4) after Brandon Belt led off the eighth with a walk. The three-time All-Star went the opposite way on a 2-1 pitch, driving it out to right for his 13th home run.

All-Star Whit Merrifield had two hits and two RBIs, and the Blue Jays got back to winning coming off a three-game sweep by Boston.

White Sox All-Star Luis Robert Jr. made it 3-2 in the sixth with a long three-run drive against Chris Bassitt for his 25th homer. But Chicago lost again after dropping two of three at struggling Oakland.

Bassitt threw six innings, allowing three runs and six hits.

Nate Pearson (5-1) worked the seventh. Erik Swanson pitched around a triple by Tim Anderson in the eighth.

Jordan Romano pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances, and the Blue Jays came away with a tight win after pounding Chicago 20-2 in a three-game sweep at Toronto in April.

Toronto took a 2-0 lead on Merrifield’s two-run, bases-loaded double in the fourth against Lucas Giolito.

Bassitt breezed through the first five innings before the White Sox got to him for three runs in the sixth. He gave up back-to-back singles to Andrew Benintendi and Tim Anderson with one out in the sixth. All-Star Luis Robert then put Chicago on top 3-2 when he drove an 0-1 pitch about halfway up the left-field seats for his 25th homer.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: RF George Springer got shaken up chasing a foul by Jake Burger when the ball ricocheted off the screen and hit him in the face, though he stayed in the game. … RHP Chad Green threw 30 pitches in live batting practice on Tuesday. … The Blue Jays hope to have RHP Adam Cimber (right shoulder impingement) throwing off the mound in the next few days, manager John Schneider said.

White Sox: White Sox RHP Michael Kopech (right shoulder inflammation) remains on course to return soon after the All-Star break, GM Rick Hahn said. The team planned to give him some extra rest, but decided to put him on the 15-day injured list after a loss to the Los Angeles Angels last week. “It was pretty clear that the shoulder fatigue he was feeling was affecting his delivery and obviously the command that night,” Hahn said. … 3B Yoán Moncada (lower back inflammation) will continue to ramp up activity in hopes that he’ll be ready for a rehab assignment following the All-Star break, Hahn said. … The White Sox hope to have closer Liam Hendriks (right elbow inflammation) throwing off the mound by the weekend. … Hahn said RHP Mike Clevinger (right biceps inflammation) is expected to throw a sideline session on Saturday. Assuming no setbacks, he is expected to return soon after the break.

UP NEXT

Toronto RHP José Berríos (8-6, 3.74) looks to continue his dominance over Chicago, while RHP Lance Lynn (5-8, 6.47) gets the ball for the White Sox. Berrios is 13-6 with a 3.26 ERA in 23 starts against the White Sox and tossed seven scoreless innings in a win at home on April 25.

“I will have a chance to play along fellow Cubans that I’ve been playing with since we were in Cuba,” he told reporters on Sunday. “That’s definitely going to be special.”

The White Sox slugger is one of eight Cuban-born players selected for this year’s Midsummer Classic, which is the most in MLB history.

Speaking of familiar faces, Robert Jr. also said he’s excited to spend time with, “[Shohei] Ohtani and [Mike] Trout – two of the best baseball players in the world.”

The White Sox split four-games with the Angels last week in a record-breaking series from Ohtani, who hit four home runs and struck out 10 batters.

The 2023 MLB All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 11 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

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“I’m very happy with the news,” Robert Jr. said. “I was expecting it, but I wasn’t sure because I knew that I was having a very good first half, but you don’t actually know until you get the news. Then when I got the news, I was very happy. I was emotional.”

Robert Jr., playing in his fourth season, has a career-high 24 home runs and 46 RBI’s in 344 plate appearances for the White Sox.

He is slashing .276/.333/.574 this season, and is nearing his career high in games played in a season.

“I think the results are coming because I’ve been swinging at pitches that are in the strike zone,” he said. “I haven’t changed much. I think that’s the key. If you are swinging at pitches in the strike zone, then you’re gonna have good results.”

Staying healthy has been a major improvement for Robert Jr. this season, too. He’s played in 83 out of a possible 86 games, compared to a total of 68 games in 2021 and 98 games in 2022.

“I think the key has been being able to play every day,” he said. “If you play everyday, you have a chance to get better, you have a chance to identify things that you can improve. If you’re not playing every day then it’s difficult to identify those areas where you need to improve. And for me, that has been the key – being able to play every day.”

Robert Jr. has also been a stellar defender as well, racking up a 1.1 defensive Wins Above Replacement this season, according to Baseball Reference.

Robert won the 2020 American League Gold Glove in center field, and seems to be well on pace to do so again this year.

The 2023 MLB All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 11 in Seattle.

Click here to follow the White Sox Talk Podcast.

Robert, playing in his fourth season, has a career-high 24 home runs and 46 RBI’s in 344 plate appearances for the White Sox.

He is slashing .276/.333/.574 this season, and is nearing his career high in games played in a season.

He has also been a stellar defender as well, racking up a 1.1 defensive Wins Above Replacement this season, according to Baseball Reference.

Robert won the 2020 American League Gold Glove in center field, and seems to be well on pace to do so again this year.

The 2023 MLB All-Star Game will be played Tuesday, July 11 in Seattle.

Click here to follow the White Sox Talk Podcast.

Medina, the A’s rookie right-hander whose only other win came against Milwaukee on June 9 when he threw five strong innings of relief, struggled with his command for the second consecutive outing. He walked five — three in the first inning — and allowed four hits and one run in five innings.

Medina (2-7) gave up a run in the first after allowing a double to Andrew Benitendi leading off the game, struck out four and worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first two innings.

“I leaned over to (bench coach Darren Bush) and said, ‘I don’t know if I’ve seen two innings and 14 guys come to the plate and only one run given up,’” manager Mark Kotsay said.

Medina was in such a funk early that in between innings, he and Kotsay had a conversation while the manager held an iPad. When the chat ended, the iPad was on the floor of the dugout.

“I’m glad that he got it together,” Kotsay said. “He should build confidence from that standpoint and realize that less thinking is probably better for him.”

Medina has 12 walks over his last 10 innings.

“I know I got in trouble but I just made the pitch when I needed to make it,” Medina said through a translator. “That’s what helped me out, keeping myself in the game.”

Two days after being on the wrong side of the first perfect game in the majors this season, the A’s had 10 hits. That snapped an Oakland-record 19 consecutive games with nine hits or fewer.

Pérez, the A’s primary backup catcher who was making his second career start at first base, grounded out and flew out in his first two at-bats before crushing a 1-2 slider from reliever Jesse Scholtens over the fence in left to put Oakland up 5-1.

The A’s won for the third time in 15 games following their season-high, seven-game winning streak.

Luis Robert Jr. homered for Chicago, which had won four of six. Benitendi added a two-run double in the eighth.

White Sox hitting coach Jose Castro was ejected after the fourth inning when he came out to argue with home plate umpire Tripp Gibson.

Before the game, Chicago called up Pérez’s younger brother, also named Carlos, from Triple-A Charlotte. The two have an older brother also named Carlos, all three with different middle names. The first name is also shared by their father and grandfather.

The two youngest Pérez brothers had played against each other in the Venezuelan Winter League but this was their first game in the majors with each other.

“Feels nice that I did it,” the A’s Pérez said. “Feels nice that I saw him on the other side and I’m really happy for him.”

Chicago, which had scored 20 runs in its previous two games, loaded the bases twice in the first two innings but only scored once on an RBI single by Elroy Jiménez in the first.

The A’s responded with four runs off opener Tanner Banks (0-3) in the second. Shea Langeliers singled in a run, Tony Kemp had an RBI triple, and Jace Peterson and Esteury Ruíz each added sacrifice flies.

Benitendi’s two-out, two-run double off reliever Sam Moll in the eighth cut Oakland’s lead to 5-3 before Trevor May retired Tim Anderson on a swinging strikeout.

Aledmys Diaz had an RBI double and scored on Jace Peterson’s single in the bottom of the frame for Oakland.

Robert’s 24th home run came off Trevor May in the ninth. May retired the next three batters for his fifth save.

Banks allowed five hits and four runs in five innings. He struck out three and walked one.

ROSTER MOVES

White Sox: OF Adam Haseley was optioned to Charlotte to make room for Pérez.

Athletics: RHP James Kaprielian was placed on the 15-day Injured List because of a strained right shoulder. RHP Yacksel Rios (Raynaud’s Syndrome) was also put on the 15-day IL. RHP Mason Miller (right forearm tightness) is in a throwing program but has been transferred to the 60-day IL. INF Jonah Bride was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. RHP Rico Garcia and INF Jordan Diaz were called up from Las Vegas. LHP Kirby Snead was activated off the 60-day IL.

UP NEXT

White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.04 ERA) is scheduled to make his majors-leading 18th start Saturday afternoon. Cease, who has allowed two runs or fewer in his previous five starts, is 2-0 in four career starts against Oakland. The A’s plan to call LHP Kyle Muller (1-4, 8.04) up from the minors to make his first start since May 22.

Trout slid home head-first on the bad throw by Aaron Bummer, helping the Angels get a critical seven-game homestand off to a successful start.

Carlos Estéves (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get the win.

Luis Robert Jr. homered for the third straight game for the White Sox. Reynaldo López (2-5) took the loss after walking Trout to start the ninth.

Bummer then came in to face Ohtani, who drew his own walk. The two Angels superstars successfully executed a double steal, leading to Trout’s heroics.

Ohtani bolstered his push for American League Player of the Month by tying it up at 1 with a massive 446-foot blast into right field, his 11th homer in the past 19 games. He has 21 RBIs in that stretch, including four straight games driving in a run.

Robert’s solo shot to left field in the first inning was his 22nd of the season, continuing a hot streak for the 25-year-old that included being named AL Player of the Week on Monday after hitting .400 (6 for 15) with three homers and four RBIs in four games against Texas and Boston. He went deep twice in a 4-1 win on Sunday to put an exclamation point on the series.

Robert and Ohtani were the only batters to break through on a night of outstanding starting pitching from the Angels’ Reid Detmers and Dylan Cease for the White Sox.

Detmers had eight strikeouts while allowing one run, two hits and one walk in six innings.

Cease struck out 10 in six-plus innings, giving up one run, five hits and one walk. He left after allowing singles to Brandon Drury and Mike Moustakas, but Joe Kelly came in to strike out Taylor Ward and get Matt Thaiss to hit into a double play.

Moustakas made his Angels debut after being acquired in a trade from Colorado on Saturday, going 1 for 3 and playing first base.

EXCUSED ABSENCE

The Angels put newly acquired IF Eduardo Escobar on the restricted list Monday so he can take a test to become an American citizen on Tuesday. General manager Perry Minasian said Escobar will be back in the lineup by Wednesday, with a chance of playing Tuesday night.

“It was really, really important to him, and I don’t blame him,” Minasian said.

The Venezuelan-born Escobar was added in a trade from the Mets on Friday to help bolster an injury-depleted infield for the Angels, who recently lost Gio Urshela to a likely season-ending broken pelvis and have 3B Anthony Rendon and rookie SS Zach Neto on the injured list.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Michael Kopech (3-6) hasn’t gone past the fifth inning in any of his past three starts. He took the loss against Texas on Wednesday after giving up three runs in four innings.

Angels: Ohtani (6-3) had one of his better outings of the season despite taking the loss in 2 -0 defeat against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits in seven innings while striking out 12.

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Robert was instrumental in the White Sox taking two-of-three from the Boston Red Sox over the weekend, hitting three home runs and four RBI’s in the team’s wins on Saturday and Sunday.

In all, Robert had a .444 batting average, along with a 1.635 OPS and four home runs during the week.

This season, Robert has exceeded 20 home runs for the first time in his career, with 21 home runs and 42 RBI’s so far. He is currently slashing .269/.326/.559 for the South Siders.

Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds won National League honors. The highly-touted prospect hit for the cycle on Friday, hitting two home runs and five RBI’s.

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Andrew Benintendi added two hits and Robert homered for the second straight game, raising his season total to 21, as the White Sox won their first series in four attempts. Chicago had lost nine of its last 13 games.

“If he hits pitches in the strike zone, he’s going to do unbelievable damage and that’s what he’s done the last few days,” manager Pedro Grifol said about Robert. “He’s hunting for off-speeds up. He’s hitting fastballs. He’s not chasing as much. He’s a really damn good player. And he’s still 25 years old. He’s still learning the game. … There’s no doubt in my mind this guy’s an All-Star.”

Chicago’s Jesse Scholtens (1-2) threw four scoreless innings to earn his first major league win. Keynan Middleton pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.

Adam Duvall had two doubles for the Red Sox, who had won seven of 10.

“Unfortunately, we’re right at a .500 team, kind of going back and forth winning and losing,” right fielder Rob Refsnyder said. “We gotta figure it out.”

Robert hit a two-run drive in the fourth and a solo shot in the sixth off Kutter Crawford, who gave up four runs in six innings.

“Being able to play every day, I feel (I’m) getting better every day,” Robert said.

Benintendi doubled to extend Chicago’s lead to 3-1 in the fifth. He advanced to third after first baseman Triston Casas opted to throw to second instead of home.

“We’ve got to hit the cutoff man on the first one,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We overthrew that one. It’s a tough situation there. As an infielder, you have to keep looking back.”

Gavin Sheets scored after drawing a walk.

“I take accountability for that for sure,” Refsnyder said. “Got to hit the first cut and kind of see what’s going on there.”

Robert put the White Sox ahead 2-1 in the fourth. He entered the game tied for second in the AL for homers. Benintendi scored after reaching on a single to lead off the inning for Chicago’s first hit.

Duvall doubled off opener Tanner Banks after back-to-back walks, giving Boston a 1-0 lead in the third.

Banks allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox left the bases loaded in the second when Caleb Hamilton struck out looking.

DIFFERENT LOOK

First baseman Bobby Dalbec made his first start for Boston since April 13. He was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Friday. Casas pinch hit for Dalbec in the third.

Hamilton got his first start since Oct. 5 with Minnesota against the White Sox.

TRAINER’S ROOM

RED SOX: LHP James Paxton (right knee soreness) was feeling well after exiting Saturday’s game against Chicago after four innings, Cora said. Paxton is expected to start Friday at Toronto. … LHP Joely Rodriguez (left shoulder inflammation) will possibly pitch another rehab outing, Cora said. Rodriguez has allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings with Triple-A Worcester. … INF Yu Chang (left hamate fracture) is swinging the bat and feeling better, Cora said. … LHP Richard Bleier (left shoulder inflammation) and RHP John Schreiber (right upper back strain) have been playing catch up to 120 feet.

WHITE SOX: Grifol said he doubts RHPs Liam Hendriks (right elbow inflammation) and Mike Clevinger (right biceps inflammation) will return from the injured list before the All-Star break. … SS Tim Anderson (right shoulder soreness) was out of the lineup for rest after he played second base for the first time in the majors Friday and Saturday. Grifol said he expects Anderson to play shortstop when he returns. … C Yasmani Grandal (jaw contusion) exited after five innings.

UP NEXT

Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (4-2, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday against Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-6, 5.08) in Miami.

White Sox: RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.22) will go Monday at the Los Angeles Angels, who will start LHP Reid Detmers (1-5, 4.02).

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The first was a momentous blast, not only because it gave the South Siders a 2-1 lead, but because there was a man on base. White Sox hitters had been on an incredible stretch of hitting solo shots. Until Robert’s two-run blast, the White Sox had hit six solo homers in a row, including four on Saturday.

Robert wasted no time adding another tally to his home run total. One at-bat later, he sent a ball out of the park with a laser to left field.

Robert also went yard on Saturday, so he’s hit three home runs in two days. He now has 21 homers on the season. That gives him sole position of second place in the American League, behind only Shohei Ohtani’s 25 round-trippers.

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As a quick refresher here’s how the All-Star voting works: each team gets one player per position and three outfielders. In Phase 1, the two with the most fan votes at each non-outfield position, and the top six outfielders advance to Phase 2. The winners of Phase 2 ballotting become the All-Star game starters.

A combination of players, managers and the Commissioner’s office select the reserves.

For the White Sox, considering the overall grim performance so far this season, they will likely send one player (per MLB All-Star rules) to Seattle for the game. Who could that player be? Could a pitcher sneak into the ranks?

Here are the feasible options for the White Sox:

Luis Robert Jr.

This is far and away the easiest answer to the question for the Sox.

He leads the White Sox in OPS (.855) and home runs (18). He also has the second-best batting average (.262) and the second-most RBIs (38). At one point, he led the league in defensive runs saved value. Currently, his DFRS is 7, evidence of his phenomenal defensive efforts in center field this season.

Robert Jr. has also been extraordinarily healthy this season. He’s already played more games than he did during the first two seasons of his career. He’s played 71 of the 74 games the White Sox have played this year.

To satiate the White Sox’ need to fill an All-Star gap, Robert Jr. is the guy. While undergoing some inconsistencies at the plate, he’s been utterly phenomenal on both ends. His bat is lively with 18 home runs and his defensive work is some of the best in the league.

Jake Burger

Jake Burger is on the All-Star game ballot, and he deserves to be.

Burger has a top-tier slugging percentage (.537) that competes with some of the league’s top sluggers; his value is better than Ronald Acuna, Freddie Freeman, Jorge Soler, etc. His 16 homers equal the 13th most in MLB.

Burger runs into a couple of problems with his ballot. He’s seen drastically fewer at-bats than the big dogs and he’s listed as a designated hitter; that position will assuredly go to Shohei Ohtani.

Burger will need the approval of players, managers and the Commissioner’s office to find a way to Seattle. You never know, though, he could sneak his way in.

Relievers?

The only two White Sox players to — maybe — receive consideration include Kendall Graveman and Keynan Middleton.

Graveman did not allow a single run in May and he’s allowed just two runs in June. He holds a 2.59 ERA through 31 innings pitched this season; he adds 29 strikeouts and 14 walks to his season resume, too.

Middleton came out of nowhere this season, serving as an integral part of the Sox’ bullpen. Middleton, like Graveman, did not allow a single run in May; also, like Graveman, Middleton has allowed two runs in June. He has a 1.80 ERA through 25 innings; he also has 32 strikeouts and nine walks.

It’s interesting to compare the two to Liam Hendriks in 2022. He was added to the All-Star game late. Hendriks held a 2.35 ERA through 30 innings before the break. Yet, contrary to both Graveman and Middleton, he struck out 45 and walked only eight with a 0.95 WHIP.

Hendriks is also a closer. Set-up men and middle-inning relievers hardly get to the All-Star game. Graveman’s six saves this season as part of a closer-by-committee unit might give him some juice, however.

The 72-hour window for Phase 2 voting begins June 26. On Sunday, July 2, the full All-Star rosters will be revealed.

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Jung hit his 15th home run, Jonah Heim had a late two-run single and Texas beat the Chicago White Sox 5-2 on Monday night.

A day after wiping out six-run deficit in a win over Toronto, the Rangers hung on after Jung helped them grab a 3-0 lead. Heim broke open a 3-2 game with a two-run single in the seventh.

Andrew Heaney (5-4) pitched neatly into the sixth after struggling in three previous starts. Josh Sborz pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, and the Rangers opened the three-game series on a winning note after taking two of three from the Blue Jays.

“It’s a good way to start the road trip,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.

Chicago lost for the seventh time in nine games.

Jung had three hits after Bochy decided to have him bat third and left-handed hitter Nathaniel Lowe drop to the fifth spot, with the White Sox starting southpaw Tanner Banks. He singled and scored in the first and hit a solo homer in the third.

“He’s a winning-type player,” Bochy said. “He’s good at big situations. He has that poise, that calmness about him, yet he’s very amped up when he’s playing the game. He plays with a lot of energy, and that’s what you love about him. But he’s able to control that.”

Lowe singled and scored in the fourth against Tanner Banks (0-2) to make it 3-0.

Chicago closed to to 3-2 in the sixth when Andrew Vaughn and Luis Robert Jr. hit consecutive homers against Andrew Heaney, the third time this season the White Sox went deep back to back. Robert is third in the AL with 18 homers, trailing Shohei Ohtani (24) and Aaron Judge (19).

Texas extended its lead to 5-2 in the seventh on Heim’s two-run, two-out single against Aaron Bummer.

DODGING JAMS

Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the eighth, only to come away empty-handed when Sborz struck out Yasmani Grandal and Jake Burger.

Will Smith worked the ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances. He walked Clint Frazier leading off and gave up a single to Elvis Andrus before retiring the next three batters.

Heaney gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. The left-hander had six strikeouts and no walks after posting a 5.40 ERA in his previous three outings.

MAINTAINING HOPE

The White Sox, meanwhile, continue to hold out hope they can turn around their season.

“I was talking to Pedro before the game and I was like ‘man we keep losing, but we’re not losing ground.’ We got 97 games left I think. So, there’s time to do it, but it’s gotta start sooner rather than later.”

Banks allowed three runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings in his first big league start as the White Sox used him as the opener in a bullpen game. It ended a streak of 191 consecutive starts for Chicago by right-handers since Dallas Keuchel against Boston on May 26, 2022.

LYNN BEREAVEMENT

RHP Lance Lynn was placed on the bereavement list, one day after he tied a franchise record with 16 strikeouts in a loss at Seattle. Chicago also placed INF Romy Gonzalez (right shoulder inflammation) on the 10-day injured list, and recalled RHP Nick Padilla from Triple-A Charlotte and INF José Rodríguez from Double-A Birmingham.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: SS Tim Anderson (sore right shoulder) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. GM Rick Hahn said he was examined by doctors on Monday and could return during this series. … Hahn said the White Sox hope to get closer Liam Hendriks (right elbow inflammation) throwing “in the next week or so.” Hendriks recently got a cortisone shot and was to have a PRP injection, treatments that were cleared by his oncologist since he is in remission from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

UP NEXT

RHP Nathan Eovaldi (9-3, 2.59 ERA) looks to bounce back from a rare loss for Texas, while RHP Dylan Cease (3-3, 4.31) gets the ball for the White Sox.

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