There was a hope that Luis Robert would be available as soon as Tuesday after he missed the weekend series in Minnesota with a right groin pull, but Robert was sidelined yet again Thursday and missed the entire series against the Royals.
When Robert took batting practice and ran the bases Thursday morning, he was already out written out of the lineup.
“The chances are improving that he can play [Friday], but we’ll wait to see what [trainer] James [Kruk] says,” manager Tony La Russa said.
Robert sustained the injury running out a ground ball in Cleveland Thursday.
Second life
Andrew Vaughn is filling in for injured Eloy Jimenez in left field and in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for Robert. Vaughn doesn’t have Vaughn’s speed, a bonus near the top of the lineup, but he’s a tough out whose productivity makes sense in that spot.
“He’s going to hit somewhere important in the lineup because he’s taking great at-bats,” La Russa said.
“He’s actually got a good strike zone, he can start a rally, hit in the middle of one or finish. …he’s special.”
Asked what happens when Robert returns, La Russa said, “I just hope we get him back tomorrow and we’ll be better wherever he hits.”
Second base in flux
Opening Day second baseman Josh Harrison, still not 100 percent after hurting his shoulder making an acrobatic catch in Cleveland last Wednesday, missed a second day after getting back in the lineup as the DH Tuesday.
“He gave me the dirty look that he’s not playing today,” La Russa said. “But we follow that one thing: ‘As soon as you say you’re ready, we give you one more day.’ So he’ll play tomorrow. He’s ready to go, he can come off the bench.”
Vaughn played second base in a pinch in Kansas City last season, and Jake Burger has taken ground balls at second.
“I think when you’ve got guys missing like we have, it’s healthy for them and for us to be creative and build in that versatility,” La Russa said. “It worked last year. When push comes to shove, playing either one of those guys — Burger on the infield or bring Vaughn in — I would hesitate, but it wouldn’t prevent it.”
The Sox are not considering moving Yoan Moncada back to second base, where he began his career with the team. Moncada switched to third in 2019 and has played his best defense on the corner.
Injury reminders
Yoan Moncada, who suffered an oblique strain before the last game of spring training, went through drills and is off to Charlotte Friday. He will play for the Triple-A Knights Saturday in the first game of his rehab assignment.
*Catcher Yasmani Grandal was at DH a second straight day after tweaking something in his leg running the bases Tuesday, but is lined up to catch Lucas Gioloto Friday against the Twins. Reese McGuire has caught Michael Kopech in each of Kopech’s four starts, including Thursday.
*Right-hander Lance Lynn threw a bullpen at Guaranteed Rate Field and is on track for a return as soon as late May, La Russa said.
