Tim Anderson isn't expected to play during the White Sox three-game series against the Seattle Mariners this week.
The White Sox shortstop wasn't in Tony La Russa's lineup for the series-opening game Monday night in the Pacific Northwest. The South Side skipper reported pregame that the team was still awaiting the results of Anderson's MRI to determine the severity of his hamstring injury, sustained during Sunday night's game in Anaheim.
Anderson pulled up limping as he ran to first base during a game-opening ground out, visibly in some discomfort. He exited the game, not coming out to play defense in the bottom of the first inning, with tightness in his left hamstring. The team described his status as day to day Sunday night.
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After the game Sunday night, La Russa seemed relatively optimistic, saying, "it looks like it's something short of, knock on wood, a serious hamstring tear or something." He spoke similarly Monday but forecasted a three-game stretch without his star shortstop, suggesting it would be really good news if the White Sox could get Anderson back for their home opener Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"He had an MRI this afternoon, have not heard the results yet," La Russa said before Monday's game. "Obviously, we'll wait until we get those results, but the first indication is he pulled up before he really started digging (while running to first base). Once he felt something, he didn't try to run through it, which is a good sign.
"I'd say if you told me he'd be ready Opening Day on Thursday, we would all be very pleased. I don't see him playing here for a couple of days, for sure."
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The White Sox, of course, are already down one of their most important players, Eloy Jiménez in the middle of a months-long rehab from surgery to repair a ruptured pectoral tendon. The South Siders, who have started the season without much of the offense explosiveness they're capable of, can't afford another huge blow to their lineup.
In the meantime, Leury García figures to assume shortstop duties. He replaced Anderson in Sunday night's game and started at the position Monday. That will throw another variable into La Russa's plans to fill in for Jiménez in left field, the super utility man García part of that calculus, as well.
La Russa informed Monday that infielder Danny Mendick is part of the taxi squad on this season-opening road trip and could be called upon should the White Sox need to send Anderson to the injured list. Though as of La Russa's media session before Monday's game, that was a hypothetical as the team awaited word on Anderson.
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