Dallas Keuchel to injured list; Reynaldo López back, likely starts Saturday

In a fairly administrative move, the White Sox placed No. 2 starter Dallas Keuchel on the injured list on Thursday, retroactive to September 7. Reynaldo López returns from Schaumburg, presumably to assume Keuchel’s start on Saturday and perhaps carry on from there as the team’s No. 5 starter.

If Keuchel returns for the start of the Cincinnati Reds series beginning September 18, it would put him directly in line to start the playoff opener. But he could easily go on six days’ rest, or start the second game of the Reds series to line him up directly as the playoffs’ second starter.

The move contrasts the relatively sunny picture painted by both Keuchel and manager Ricky Renteria after Keuchel left his Sunday start early with injury. But this is as much a playoff positioning move as it is extra rest for Keuchel. Putting the veteran on the IL frees up a space on the roster that would otherwise need to be juggled loose with Keuchel still technically active but not pitching.

Here’s the full White Sox release:

WHITE SOX PLACE DALLAS KEUCHEL ON 10-DAY INJURED LIST; RECALL REYNALDO LÓPEZ FROM SCHAUMBURG TRAINING FACILITY

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have placed left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to September 7) with back spasms and have recalled righthander Reynaldo López from the Schaumburg training facility.

Keuchel, 32, is 6-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 32 strikeouts over nine starts this season, his first with the White Sox. He ranks among the American League leaders in ERA (second), opponents slugging percentage (second, .279), wins (tied for second), opponents OPS (third, .542), walks per 9.0 IP (fifth, 2.03) and WHIP (eighth, 1.05).

López, 26, is 0-2 with an 8.38 ERA and 10 strikeouts over four starts with the White Sox in 2020.