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Rodon likely to start season on DL with biceps issue

David Banks / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It's looking like the Chicago White Sox's rotation will be a man short to start the season, and not because of a Jose Quintana trade.

Left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League start against the Oakland Athletics due to biceps tightness in his throwing arm, according to Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago.

Initial results from Rodon's MRI were positive, but White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said the team plans on being especially cautious with the 24-year-old southpaw.

"We're going to err on the side of caution here, even if it winds up costing him his first couple starts because we're slowing down the schedule now by scratching him," Hahn said. "It's too early to speculate how long we're going to be without Carlos. I hate to speculate, but since we are slowing down his schedule by having him miss the start today, the odds are probably that he starts the season on the DL. But again we'll know more after he takes his further exams."

Rodon asked to start Friday's game following the MRI, but the team sent him for a second opinion. The biceps exam revealed no structural damage, and is not believed to be too serious.

Hahn also said that the team will not replace Rodon with a top prospect. He explained that he doesn't want them to go "up, down, up, down." It remains unclear who will replace Rodon in the rotation if he does miss time.

Rodon has gone 18-16 with a 3.90 ERA over his first two major-league seasons. He also managed to improve his walk rate from 2015 to 2016. He only issued 54 free passes in 165 innings in 2016, compared to 71 walks over 139 1/3 innings the year before.

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