Multiple positive COVID-19 tests among the Cleveland Guardians party, including manager Terry Francona and bench coach DeMarlo Hale, forced postponement of the White Sox’ game against the Guardians Wednesday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Other uniform personnel and some traveling support staff also tested positive.
The postponement was announced about an hour before the scheduled 1:10 p.m. start and after the Guardians said Francona had tested positive and would be replaced by Hale. A member of the team’s traveling party was ill Tuesday and left Guaranteed Rate Field.
A statement from Major League Baseball said the game was postponed to allow for continued testing and contact tracing.
MLB has not announced when the game will be rescheduled. The Sox and Guardians split the first two games of the series.
The Sox open a four-game series against the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field Thursday.
Vince Velasquez, the Sox’ scheduled Wednesday starter, was pushed ahead to Friday. Dylan Cease stays on schedule Thursday, while Dallas Keuchel (Saturday) and Michael Kopech (Sunday) were moved ahead, getting an extra day of rest.
Lucas Giolito was slated to face the Yankees Sunday but he is expected to start Monday when the Sox open a five-game series in Kansas City.
Lopez feeling better
Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez said his low back discomfort was subsiding Wednesday. Lopez was planning to play catch at 90 feet with expectation of returning to normal routine in two or three days.
“Today is much better than yesterday,” he said.
Lopez said the coaching staff noticed he wasn’t getting full extension when he pitched Monday and he was removed from the game. He still felt it Tuesday walking around but was fine Wednesday morning, he said.
Cueto ‘will help us’
Johnny Cueto, who made his fourth start at Triple-A Charlotte Wednesday, could get his first one for the Sox during a five-game series over four days in Kansas City next week. A split doubleheader Tuesday is a possibility.
Reliever Joe Kelly, who was with Cueto during his rehab assignment at Charlotte, said Cueto “is going to help us.”
“He was commanding all of his pitches for strikes,” Kelly said.
“He could dot. Some umpires give up on some of the ways his balls move, and they move a ton. He messes up hitters with timing, multiple looks, leg kicks, slide steps.”
*Andrew Vaughn, on the IL with a bruised right hand, was slated to play in his first rehab game. Vaughn is eligible to come off the IL Thursday.
This and that
Leury Garcia was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup with a sore ankle. Yasmani Grandal and Yoan Moncada were being rested.
*Sox starters own a 2.21 ERA a .205 average against in the last 15 games.
*Luis Robert is 15-for-37 (.405) with two homers and six RBI during his nine-game hitting streak.
*Manager Tony La Russa, when asked Wednesday morning if he felt better after Tuesday night’s 4-1 that followed Monday’s epic 12-9 loss in 11 innings in which the Sox blew a six-run lead in the ninth: “Here’s a very honest answer. It’s a lot better but it’s not 100 percent better because that loss the other day will never be forgotten.”
