TAMPA, Fla. – The Chicago White Sox have decided to give center fielder Luis Robert Jr. a scheduled day off for Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Michael A. Taylor will start in center field in Robert’s place for the 7:05 p.m. ET matchup.
White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed the decision, noting that Robert has been consistently playing since his return from injury on July 8, appearing in every game so far. The day off is intended to keep him fresh and ready for continued success.
Manager Emphasizes Rest to Maintain Player’s Energy
Venable explained the reasoning behind the rest for Robert, citing his recent activity and weather conditions as factors in the decision.
“The way he was running around out there in Pittsburgh and a hot day yesterday, just want to keep him fresh and feeling good,”
Venable said.
Robert’s Recent Performance Boosts Team Hope
Luis Robert Jr. is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak, his longest this season, going 11-for-28 with notable contributions including one double, two home runs, eight runs batted in, three stolen bases, and four walks during that span. In Monday’s 8-3 victory over the Rays, Robert went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.
This streak has helped raise his batting average to .206, the highest since early in the season when it stood at .231. His on-base plus slugging (OPS) has also improved, sitting at .636 through 323 plate appearances, matching a career high since early May. While some offensive stats remain career lows, Robert is still one of the league leaders with 25 stolen bases and maintains strong defensive play in center field.
Michael A. Taylor Steps Up in Center Field
In Robert’s absence, Michael A. Taylor is expected to fill the center field role. Through 205 plate appearances this season, Taylor has posted a .224 batting average with a .294 on-base percentage and .399 slugging percentage. He has contributed five home runs, 25 RBIs, seven stolen bases, and 18 walks while striking out 70 times. FanGraphs rates Taylor’s wins above replacement (WAR) at 0.5, just below Robert’s 0.6 WAR.
Scheduled Rest Aims to Preserve Robert’s Contribution
Choosing to rest Luis Robert Jr. reflects the White Sox’s approach to managing his health and sustaining his impact as the season progresses. Given his vital role in both offensive production and defense, maintaining his freshness could be critical for upcoming games as the team continues its campaign against competitive opponents like the Tampa Bay Rays.