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Lance Lynn comes off the IL for the Chicago White Sox — and he’ll start tonight vs. the Detroit Tigers

DETROIT — The Chicago White Sox reinstated Lance Lynn from the injured list Monday and the right-hander will start tonight against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.Lynn has been out since he hobbled off the mound in an April 2 Cactus League game after throwing a pitch to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll. He underwent right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon three days later.AdvertisementLynn was originally in line to start Tuesday, but was bumped up a day after Michael Kopech left Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers in the first inning with right knee discomfort. Monday’s scheduled starter Johnny Cueto stepped in for five relief innings beginning in the third.[ [Don’t miss] Column: It’s up to Lance Lynn to save the Chicago White Sox’s season — and it begins tonight in Detroit ]Lynn went 11-6 with a 2.69 ERA and 176 strikeouts in 28 starts last season — his first with the Sox — and placed third in Cy Young voting. He signed a two-year, $38 million extension last July.AdvertisementLynn made three starts during a rehab assignment for Triple-A Charlotte, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and eight strikeouts. He allowed 10 runs on 15 hits in 10 innings.

Sports

Yankees’ Josh Donaldson’s 1-game ban upheld by MLB and fine is cut to $5,000 for ‘Jackie’ remark to Tim Anderson

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has upheld Josh Donaldson’s one-game suspension, a penalty that was assessed after the New York Yankees third baseman made a remark to White Sox star Tim Anderson about Jackie Robinson that Chicago manager Tony La Russa called racist.MLB special adviser John McHale upheld the penalty after hearing Donaldson’s appeal on Thursday, a person familiar with the discipline told The Associated Press. The person spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because McHale’s decision was not announced.AdvertisementDonaldson’s fine was cut in half by McHale to $5,000, the person said. Donaldson will serve the penalty during the Yankees’ series opener against Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations, announced the original penalty on May 23, two days after Donaldson made multiple references to Robinson while talking to Anderson during a game.AdvertisementRobinson broke the MLB color barrier in 1947 and every team in the big leagues has retired his No. 42 in his honor.A three-time All-Star and the 2015 AL MVP with Toronto, Donaldson said he was referring to a 2019 Sports Illustrated article in which Anderson, who is Black, was quoted as saying: “I kind of feel like today’s Jackie Robinson … because he changed the game, and I feel like I’m getting to a point to where I need to change the game.”Anderson said he agreed with La Russa, and several Yankees said Donaldson was wrong. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said: “This is just my opinion — (that’s) somewhere he should not be going.” New York star Aaron Judge said: “I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do there.”Donaldson, who is white, said he had “joked around” with Anderson in the past using the reference. Donaldson made a public apology to the Robinson family.“I think everybody wanted to have a say. But they don’t know my heart,” Donaldson said on June 1. “I do feel bad that the Robinson family — I never wanted them to feel their name should ever be regarded in a bad light. That was why I issued the apology.”In his first season with the Yankees, the 37-year-old Donaldson is batting .235 with five homers and 18 RBIs.

Sports

Phil Mickelson isn’t giving up on playing on the PGA Tour: ‘I’ve earned that lifetime membership, so I think it should be my choice’

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Phil Mickelson isn’t giving up on playing on the PGA Tour again, even if he is currently not welcome there.During his 25-minute session with reporters on Monday in advance of the U.S. Open, Mickelson said his preference would be “to be able to choose which path I’d like. One or the other or both.”Advertisement“I’m very appreciative of the many memories, opportunities, experiences, friendships and relationships the PGA Tour has provided and those are going to last a lifetime,” Mickelson said. “But I’m hopeful that I’ll have a chance to create more.”Mickelson led a defection by 17 PGA Tour members to the LIV Golf series, a move the tour countered by suspending those who decided to keep their memberships.AdvertisementAsked why he ultimately made the move, he said, “I think that there is an obvious incredible financial commitment.”Mickelson reportedly made $200 million to move to the new series. The Saudi backing of the new tour has led to criticism that those playing in the events are helping the kingdom whitewash its widely criticized human rights record and its connection to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.Phil Mickelson responds to a question at a press conference on June 13, 2022, at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., ahead of the U.S. Open. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP)Sporting the stubbly beard he debuted to the public last weekend at the LIV event outside London, Mickelson spoke of the lifetime membership he’s earned over 30 years on the PGA Tour. He said he had no intention of resigning, the way Dustin Johnson, Kevin Na, Sergio Garcia and some others have, and that there was no use predicting his future on the tour.“I’ve earned that lifetime membership, so I think it should be my choice,” he said.Mickelson, who turns 52 on Thursday, earned a five-year exemption to the U.S. Open when he won the PGA Championship last year. It means five more chances to capture the only major that has eluded him.He was asked a few times about what his decision to play for the Saudi-backed golf league might do to his standing with a fan base that has adored him over the decades.“I respect and I understand their opinions,” Mickelson said. “And I understand that they have strong feelings and strong emotions regarding this choice. And I certainly respect that.”He was also deferential to the players he has competed against over the years, many of whom have been sharply critical of the new league.Advertisement“I respect if they disagree,” he said. “But at this time this is the right decision.”

Sports

Column: It’s up to Lance Lynn to save the Chicago White Sox’s season — and it begins tonight in Detroit

Apologies are in order to Lance Lynn, whose assignment Monday night in Detroit was to save the Chicago White Sox’s season.Against all odds, the season remained salvageable, in spite of a rash of hamstring and knee injuries, a lackluster offense, boneheaded mistakes on the bases and in the field, and head-scratching decisions by manager Tony La Russa.AdvertisementThe Sox have been their own worst enemy, but a few key fixes to personnel — and protocols — could turn things around on a dime.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Tony La Russa isn’t worried about Chicago White Sox fan discontent — he’ll ignore it like he did in his 1st South Side stint ]Thanks in part to the schedule makers, the Sox have 16 remaining games against the first-place Minnesota Twins, starting on July 4 at Guaranteed Rate Field. They’ll face the Twins in six of their last nine games in the regular season, including the final three on the South Side.AdvertisementThe Sox trailed the Twins in the American League Central by six games entering Monday, but Minnesota is 8-11 since May 25, so it’s not like they need to catch the New York Yankees. And there’s always the three wild-card spots. Beggars can’t be choosers. But really, it’s all up to Lynn now. It’s probably unfair to pin so much hope on one player, but that’s how life rolls in 2022.Big man, big shoulders, big responsibilities.White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn talks through a pitching session during a morning workout at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on March 17, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The Sox have pointed to Lynn’s return since he suffered a torn tendon in his right knee in his final Cactus League start in Arizona. Two and a half months later, he’ll make his scheduled debut a day ahead of schedule, replacing Johnny Cueto, who was forced to go in relief Sunday after Michael Kopech left with right knee discomfort after two batters in Sunday’s loss to the Texas Rangers. Will one day make a difference? It shouldn’t with a veteran like Lynn. Lynn’s dominance in the first half last season not only helped the Sox jump out to a comfy lead in the AL Central, but helped create swagger that gave the team its personality. Who could forget Lynn whipping off his belt and throwing it over the dugout for umpire Vic Lentz last August after a sticky stuff check? According to Lynn, Lentz ejected him because he “hurt his feelings” by telling the ump he got there too late to request a check. Sox fans loved Lynn’s attitude and he became a fan favorite quickly.But that Sox swagger seemingly has been put in a blind trust. The dugout looks dead at times, which happens when there’s not much to shout about. Even Eloy Jiménez’s mugging to the camera and waving “Hi Mom” have been missed. Repeated camera shots of La Russa, standing alone in the corner with a stone-faced stare, doesn’t help.Lynn can change all that. It will take more than one good start, but it has to start Monday. He’s a leader in the clubhouse and his voice carries. Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Chicago White Sox injury updates: What’s the latest on catcher Yasmani Grandal and relievers Joe Kelly and Aaron Bummer? ]When times get tough, the manager and leaders of a team are expected to calm the waters and reassure fans things will be OK. But after the “Fire Tony” chants Saturday from agitated Sox fans, Lynn’s preplanned media session Sunday was postponed. The always accommodating Tim Anderson was unavailable to talk too, the team told reporters, until he returns from his rehab stint. Yasmani Grandal barked he was “doing something” Sunday when asked if he had a second to talk.The Zoom era gave major-league players the option of avoiding media on a regular basis. It’s not surprising some no longer feel obligated to talk, even with the return of clubhouse access. But you’d think La Russa’s players would want to support their manager publicly after all the stories of them bonding last season.Lucas Giolito and Jake Burger addressed fan reaction after Saturday’s game, but neither defended La Russa. Giolito said the fans often voice “colorful opinions,” then blamed himself for the loss to the Rangers. Burger said fans “have a right to voice their opinion” during games.White Sox manager Tony La Russa looks out from the dugout before the start of a game against the Rangers at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 10, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“They are coming to the game and they can say whatever they want,” Burger said. “I know this clubhouse is a family and we are going to stick together no matter what. You can have outside opinions, but this clubhouse, we are tight and it’s a family.”La Russa, the head of the family, wore a T-shirt that said “FAMILY” to a recent postgame briefing, in case there was any question about the tight-knit group. He also understands the need for players to talk to the media, and once went into the St. Louis Cardinals players’ lounge in Busch Stadium to force several players to go out and answer questions after a difficult loss.But that was a different era.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] ‘I’ve been working’: How Yoán Moncada is searching for consistency at the plate for the Chicago White Sox ]The funny part about the team protecting La Russa is the manager has been through all this before. Back at the start of Cardinals spring training in 2004, someone hired a plane to fly around the complex with a banner that read: “Save the Cardinals. Fire La Russa and (GM Walt) Jocketty.” Now fans save money by just venting on Twitter.La Russa overcame the disenchantment and wound up winning championships in St. Louis in 2006 and 2011. And he hasn’t lost faith in this team, while acknowledging it has been a struggle.But the Sox desperately need a spark, the kind of signature performance that can help erase the agony of the first 2 1/2 months of the season and engineer a course correction.It’s all starts with the Big Man.