White Sox: Chris Sale drops appeal, begins five-game suspension

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Chris Sale joined Jeff Samardzija on the suspended list on Thursday morning.

One day after Samardzija dropped the appeal of his five-game suspension, the White Sox ace followed suit and will have his next start pushed back one day.

Both players received five-game suspensions for their involvement in an April 23 bench-clearing brawl that also resulted in similar punishments for four Kansas City Royals players.

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Carlos Rodon has been announced as the White Sox starter on Saturday to make up for the one day both Samardzija and Sale have been pushed back. Samardzija is expected to start the team’s series opener in Milwaukee on Monday and Sale should go Tuesday.

Sale has struggled in his last two starts, posting a 14.04 ERA over 8 1/3 innings. He’s allowed 16 hits, 14 runs (13 earned) and walked seven while striking out 10. White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Wednesday’s issues, when Sale tied a career-high with five walks, was more about lack of command.

“He's going to be all right,” Ventura said. “Location is always going to be a big thing. He just didn't really have the feel every once in a while in there with some pitches but velocity and getting after it is his best thing.”

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