Sox' Luis Robert Jr. singles in return from hamstring injury with trade deadline looming
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. returned to the White Sox’ lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays, giving himself just more than three weeks to prove his worth to contending teams as the trade deadline approaches.
Robert grounded into a fielder’s choice and lined a single to right field against Chris Bassitt before the game was called with two outs in the top of the seventh inning after an 84-minute rain delay to give the Jays a 6-1 victory. They have won 10 games in a row.
Robert also made a pair of impressive running catches in center, showing the hamstring injury that had sidelined him since June 26 has healed.
Manager Will Venable said after the game that he thought Robert still looked ‘‘a little guarded out there,’’ but he was pleased overall with his return.
‘‘First game back, I think this is one of those things where you just have to be comfortable and confident,’’ Venable said. ‘‘The game speed is just another level, and you have to get comfortable with that.’’
Robert will have to goose up his dismal first-half numbers if general manager Chris Getz is to have any chance of flipping him for a prospect package by the deadline July 31.
Robert’s slash line was a brutal .185/.270/.313 upon his return. He has eight home runs and 32 RBI, and his 22 stolen bases were still tied for sixth-most in the majors.
Two years removed from a 38-homer campaign that had solidified his status as the franchise cornerstone, Robert’s $20 million option for 2026 looks steep for the rebuilding Sox.
The red-hot Jays scored five runs in the third against Sox right-hander Aaron Civale. Third baseman Josh Rojas accounted for the Sox’ lone run with a homer in the sixth, his first round-tripper of the season.
Tough-luck Vargas
After a strong start to the season, infielder Miguel Vargas has gone cold at the plate in the last two weeks. But Venable is chalking a lot of that up to bad luck.
Vargas entered play Tuesday mired in a 7-for-57 rut, with only two RBI and 13 strikeouts in his last 15 games. Nonetheless, he is still among the Sox’ offensive leaders with 10 homers and 34 RBI.
‘‘Maybe there was a stretch there where he wasn’t hitting balls hard, but when he has, they really haven’t fallen,’’ Venable said before the game. ‘‘As far as him and what he’s doing, I would just encourage him to continue to do it because he’s doing a great job.’’
Vargas grounded into a double play and struck out before the game was called. He has played mostly third base this season but is the Sox’ everyday first baseman for now after a quad injury to Ryan Noda.
Coming and going
Utility player Brooks Baldwin was scratched from the lineup after his lower back tightened up on him in the weight room a few hours before the game.
It wasn’t clear how serious the injury might be or whether it might affect the travel plans of infielder Tristan Gray, who was sent back to Triple-A Charlotte a day after being called up to the big-league roster. Gray was demoted to accommodate Robert’s return to action.
Meanwhile, reliever Cam Booser started a rehab assignment at Charlotte on his way back from a strained left shoulder.