CHICAGO — White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson will be placed on the injured list after leaving Sunday’s game against the Cubs with a strained right groin.
“This guy is as good as anyone in the game at that position, in all regards,” manager Tony La Russa said after his team’s 5-4, 12-inning victory over the Cubs. “We’re not nearly as good without him, but we’re going to have to be good enough to win.”
La Russa indicated that the severity of the injury will be known after an MRI on Monday. The team is off before beginning a road trip in Toronto on Tuesday.
Anderson, 29, fell to the ground after throwing catcher P.J. Higgins out at first base in the top of the fifth inning. He limped off the field with the help of the White Sox training staff.
“He got a spike stuck or something,” La Russa said. “It’s typical. He goes on the IL after making a great play.”
Anderson went 1-for-2 with a single in the first inning before leaving the game.
Anderson is hitting .356 as an offensive catalyst for the second-place Sox, who are in the midst of another injury-riddled season. The team is without stars Luis Robert (COVID-19), Eloy Jimenez (hamstring), Yoan Moncada (hip) and starting pitcher Lance Lynn (knee). In addition, Jimenez had to leave his first rehab game in the minors Saturday.
Infielder Leury Garcia, a possible Anderson replacement, is also nursing an ailment.
Infielder Danny Mendick replaced Anderson at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the White Sox’s victory.
“When it happens, it happens,” Mendick said. “It’s terrible but we still have a ball game to play … We have 26 guys and we have to work with that. Everyone has to step up and do their job.”
The White Sox have been underwhelming this season, having been within a game of .500 or at .500 for 22 straight games — the sixth-longest streak of being within a game of .500 in MLB history. They’ll once again try to push past the .500 mark as they embark on a six-game road trip against American League East opponents, but they’ll have to do it without their shortstop, leadoff man and inspirational leader.
“We’ll play with what we got, and we got a lot,” La Russa said.