Rainout allows White Sox to adjust pitching rotation

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DETROIT -- Though a rainout cost John Danks a start in Detroit he’s expected to make his next turn on Friday.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura used Saturday’s postponement to alter his rotation as the team’s plans also include pushing back rookie Carlos Rodon’s next turn as well.

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The White Sox expect to start Chris Sale and Jose Quintana on Tuesday and Wednesday in St. Louis while a pair of days off this week means Rodon -- who pitched five innings Thursday in Detroit -- likely won’t pitch again until Toronto comes to U.S. Cellular Field in a series that begins July 6. Danks looks to be in line to pitch Friday’s series opener against the Baltimore Orioles.

“Young guy, going through it you want to give (Rodon) as much as he can but you also want to take care of him, similar to what we did with Sale when he moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation,” Ventura said. “You just want to when you can give him a breather. But when he’s going, you want him every five days so he can get the repetition and everything that goes with being a starter in the big leagues. And on the other hand you want to give him a break when you can.”

Rodon is likely to pitch either Monday or Tuesday game against the Blue Jays, which would mean 10 or 11 days in between starts. The White Sox may also give Rodon extended rest around the All-Star break.

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Danks is 0-4 with a 6.85 ERA in six starts in June. Rather than push him back one day, the White Sox elected to keep Jeff Samardzija on regular rest.

“You want him to pitch better and he wants to pitch better,” Ventura said. “There’s been times when we’ve needed him to go deep in the game and he does it. The veteran part of him, you trust him to improve and get better at it. You ask him to go nine? Not really, but he realizes he can pitch better and get deeper into games.”

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