Sox alter pitching rotation (UPDATE)

Mark Gonzales:

White Sox ace Mark Buehrle will make two more starts before the All-Star break and start the second half of the season July 17 against Baltimore.

The decision was made two days before the American League All-Star roster will be announced. The left-hander, who is 8-2 with a 3.09 ERA, has a chance to make the AL squad. If he’s selected, the Sox have the option of adjusting their rotation for the second half.

The rotation is set up so left-hander John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Buehrle will face Minnesota next weekend. …

UPDATE: Con Cooper doesn’t like the idea of Buehrle pitching in the All-Star game after his Sunday start:

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Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo will play in two All-Star games

The Birmingham News:

It’s official now. Birmingham Barons Tyler Flowers and Dayan Viciedo will be the first minor leaguers to participate in an all-star doubleheader.

Of sorts.

Flowers and Viciedo are scheduled to play in the prestigious Futures Game July 12. After requesting and getting permission from the parent Chicago White Sox, the duo will return to Birmingham July 13 to participate in the Southern League All-Star Game at Regions Park. …

What’s Aroldis Chapman’s age?

Yesterday I kept hearing 21. Today I read in SI/CNN that:

Chapman pitched for Cuba during the World Baseball Classic in March, where he posted a 5.68 ERA in 6 1/3 innings. Reports during that tournament listed Chapman’s age as 26.

Carlos Quentin to start minor league rehabilitation assignment

Mark Gonzales:

White Sox slugger Carlos Quentin left his teammates Friday to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Quentin’s destination wasn’t revealed yet, but his locker stall at Kauffman Stadium was empty.

Quentin hasn’t played since tearing a tendon in his left foot on May 25. …

Cowley writes Quentin will be headed to Charlotte.

Ozzie says the biggest test for Quentin will be running, starting and stopping.

SoxMachine’s Winston-Salem & Kannapolis Minor League roundup

Justin Edwards:

at Winston-Salem: 1-0, 7.00 ERA, 9 IP, 10 H, 4 HR, 2 BB, 3 K
at Kannapolis: 4-3, 3.80, 45 IP, 48 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 30 K

The Sox have put Edwards on the fast track following Tommy John surgery, getting the call to Winston-Salem despite being the third- or fourth-most deserving Kannapolis pitcher.  His fastball is in the high-80s, so he has some work to do in terms of missing bats.

Henry Mabee promoted to Birmingham

Winston-Salem Journal:

The Dash had one roster change yesterday. The Chicago White Sox sent right-handed pitcher Henry Mabee to Class AA Birmingham and replaced him with right-hander Gregory Infante, who was called up from low-A Kannapolis.

Mabee’s stats.

AL Closer report: Bobby Jenks

David Golebiewski:

Jenks pitched just twice this week, getting a W vs. the cross-town Cubbies June 27th and getting the save against the Royals yesterday. The 6-3, 275 pounder is turning in a superb year, with 8.79 K/9 (a marked increase from last year’s 5.55 K/9) and 1.88 BB/9. Some poor luck on flyballs has put a damper on the overall numbers, but Jenks has recovered his strikeout ability and velocity (95.4 MPH fastball in 2009, 93.8 last year) while further refining his control.