Chicago White Sox to Reinstate Key Pitcher From Injured List at Start of Second Half

The Chicago White Sox are bringing starting pitcher Michael Kopech off the injured list for Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves.

When the Chicago White Sox open up the second half of the season on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves, they'll do so with starting pitcher Michael Kopech on the mound.

Kopech, the Sox young flamethrower, is being reinstated from the injured list.

The following update comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:

Kopech (shoulder) will return from the 15-day injured list to start the White Sox's first game of the second half Friday in Atlanta, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

ANALYSIS
Kopech was placed on the IL in early July with what was categorized as right shoulder inflammation, though the move may have been made mostly in order to give him extra rest. The right-hander is on pace for a career high in innings this season and had been struggling in his recent outings before landing on the IL. 

The 27-year-old Texas native is 3-7 this season with a 4.08 ERA. He's got one of the better fastballs in the league, having struck out 97 batters in 86 innings, but walks have also bitten him. He's walked a league-high 49 batters this year.

Having made his debut in 2018, Kopech is 13-20 lifetime with a 3.77 ERA. He missed 2019 with Tommy John surgery and then opted out of the COVID 2020 season.

He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox along with Yoan Moncada before the 2017 season in a deal that sent Chris Sale back to Boston.

The White Sox and Braves open the second half on Friday at 7:20 p.m. ET.

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