BOSTON — The Chicago White Sox inserted center fielder Luis Robert in the No. 2 slot of the batting order for Sunday’s series finale against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
But manager Tony La Russa anticipates having third baseman Yoán Moncada in that spot Monday against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field.
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“I told Robert, ‘We like you hitting fourth but I’m moving you to second (Sunday), but you’ll be back at fourth (Monday),” La Russa said before Sunday’s game. “Moncada is swinging the bat well and he adds a lot to the lineup at that spot. So that gives him a chance to spark us.”
Moncada is expected back after a rehab stint with the Knights. And it’s likely he’ll be joined by reliever Joe Kelly, who has also been rehabbing with Charlotte.
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Moncada suffered a right oblique strain on the final day of spring training and went on the injured list April 5. Kelly has been working his way back all spring from a right biceps nerve injury suffered last season.
“Kelly, we are going to embrace him with open arms,” La Russa said.
Moncada slashed .318/.360/.636 with one double, two home runs and five RBIs in six games with Charlotte.
“We are excited to get him back, period,” La Russa said. “But add the exclamation mark with the way (Triple-A manager) Wes (Helms) is talking about how he’s working, great frame of mind and really getting the bat out.”
Kelly did not allow a hit and struck out three in three innings with Charlotte. He’ll add depth to the Sox bullpen.
“The true rubber-armed reliever is more rare now than ever,” La Russa said. “Most guys are launching their pitches. They are not finessing it. So there are days, a lot of days, those guys shouldn’t pitch back to back.
“Now all of a sudden, you have Kelly to pitch that seventh or eighth.”
La Russa recalled watching Kelly during spring training in 2011 while managing the St. Louis Cardinals.
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“I remember we always had the competitive batting practices and I was behind the cage with (pitching coach Dave) Duncan and we saw this guy and he was like — explosive fastball, curve ball, slider, change, athletic as all,” La Russa said. “‘Who is this guy?’
“At the end of the spring, they were going to send him to A ball. And I went, ‘I want to manage A Ball.’ (The Cardinals) brought him up in (2012) and he did good and they traded him to Boston (in 2014). I was with Boston (as an executive) when he was here the championship year (in 2018).
“So, knock on wood, keep him healthy. He’s a serious competitor.”
