Notes: Sox without Rodón for now; Robert

KANSAS CITY -- Carlos Rodón will not pitch for the White Sox during this week’s series in Oakland, as the left-hander continues to experience shoulder fatigue and soreness, per manager Tony La Russa.

“It’s not a decision that you like doing,” La Russa said. “We like him pitching, but he’s still not experiencing the good feeling, whether it’s fatigue and a little soreness.

“But right now, we’re hoping he can pitch against the Red Sox over the weekend but there are no guarantees there. When he doesn’t feel right, it’s impossible to push it. You don’t even dare, even think of that. We do miss him in the rotation.”

The White Sox have night games Tuesday and Wednesday in Oakland, with the team listing TBD and Dallas Keuchel as starters for those contests. Right-hander Jimmy Lambert is with the team in Kansas City, and La Russa said Saturday that Lambert will play some role in Tuesday’s game. Reynaldo López finishes the series Thursday afternoon, followed by a six-game homestand against the Red Sox and Angels.

Lance Lynn (right knee inflammation) and Lucas Giolito (strained left hamstring) already are on the 10-day injured list, leaving the powerful White Sox rotation a bit strained. Rodón was out of action from Aug. 8-25 with left shoulder fatigue, and he has thrown 67 pitches and 77 pitches, respectively, over his two starts since returning.

Since July 1, Rodón has topped 100 pitches just once, with 104 in a victory at the Twins on July 6. The White Sox have the opportunity to let him get close to 100 percent healthy with a big lead in the American League Central and the playoffs approaching.

“Tired, sore. You know, there is a combination there, not just fatigue,” La Russa said. “He’s got some soreness to him.

“You’ve all heard it before and it’s true, whether it’s arm, legs, back, soreness is what you live with in this game. You don’t ever play not sore, if you’re pitching or playing. But you recognize sore versus hurt, and we don’t want to get him hurt.”

The White Sox have taken great care with Rodón this season, as he has made six starts with four days’ rest, five with five days' rest and 10 with six-plus days, per Baseball Reference. Even with that caution, the smart thing is to be concerned, per La Russa, especially with such a valuable component.

“You don’t want to think it’s a rainbow all the time and get splashed,” La Russa said. “The concern is more that since his first assignment to now, he’s had more rest. We’ve really been careful with him. He’s probably pitched four or five times with four days' rest.

“There’s been a number of times in games where we’ve taken him out and he says, ‘I’ve got more,’ and I said, ‘No, that’s enough.’ That’s what’s concerning, that all this should add up to where right now he would be in peak form. You have to face the reality. But we are optimistic. If we just get smart and back off, he’ll pitch for us.”

Robert impressive at any strength

As if Luis Robert’s performance wasn’t impressive enough, the center fielder said postgame Saturday he’s still performing at less than 100 percent because of the after-effects of his right hip flexor tear.

“Just a little bit,” said Robert through interpreter Billy Russo. “[Saturday] I felt very good, but there are days that I don’t feel that good, or I don’t feel that sure. During those days, I just prefer to slow down a little bit, just in case.”

“I told him I’d rather lose the game than lose him,” said La Russa of Robert. “We’re doing a lot of that when he runs to first base by the way. And when he gets to first base, he hasn’t had a steal sign in forever, and we just don’t want to push it that way.”

Per Statcast, Robert’s 452-foot first-inning home run Saturday was his third longer than 450 feet in two seasons.

Third to first

? Adam Engel should begin an injury rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte this week. Engel has been out since Aug. 12 with left shoulder inflammation.

? Carl Edwards Jr., who has pitched for five different Minor League teams this season and three at the Triple-A level, made his second straight scoreless appearance since coming to Charlotte. Edwards joined the White Sox via a Minor League deal on Aug. 31. He played an integral part of the 2016 Cubs championship squad, including recording the first two outs of the 10th inning in a Game 7 World Series victory.

They said it

“I guarantee you if we lost that game yesterday I wouldn’t be answering that question today. I would have held it against him more than 24 hours.” -- a smiling La Russa, when asked pregame Sunday about Salvador Perez