Liam Hendriks takes a ‘step in the right direction’ as Chicago White Sox close in on another live batting practice – The Denver Post

Liam Hendriks has taken another step towards his return to the Chicago White Sox with his third live batting practice in a week.

The Sox threw about 19 shots against teammates Elvis Andrus, Adam Haseley and Seby Zavala ahead of Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

“It went well,” said manager Pedro Grifol. “His numbers were really good.”

Hendriks built on previous sessions on May 19 at Guaranteed Rate Field and Monday at Cleveland. He is making his comeback after undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“He came from Cleveland,” Grifol said. “Really a good step in the right direction. We’re going to sit down and assess it as an organization and see what our next step is.

The Sox are also receiving positive reports of Eloy Jiménez’s rehab stint with Double-A Birmingham. The outfielder/designated hitter went 0 for 5 with a walk in his first two games with the Barons against the Tennessee Smokies.

“I don’t care too much about what he does offensively,” Grifol said. “All I care about is when he got through the game, how he felt. He felt good and that’s all that matters to me.

“As long as he sees grounds, goes through the things he has to go through, if he’s healthy at the end of the day, it’s a good day for Eloy.”

Jiménez – on the injured list after suffering an appendectomy on May 6 – was hit in the ninth inning on Thursday. Grifol said it was part of the program.

“He was going to play seven innings and that was it,” Grifol said.

Grifol said “there’s a possibility” Jiménez could be back with the Sox when they begin a six-game homestand Monday against the Los Angeles Angels.

Here are some more notes from Comerica Park.

Jimmy Lambert has a ‘pretty cool’ experience

The Sox were waiting after Friday’s game to determine Saturday’s starting pitcher. They will fill Mike Clevinger’s spot for the second time while the right-hander is on the IL with an inflamed right wrist.

Reliever Jimmy Lambert opened Monday against the Guardians. He pitched a scoreless inning before giving way to Jesse Scholtens, who allowed a run on two hits in five solid innings.

Lambert returned to the mound for Wednesday’s series finale in Cleveland, throwing a perfect ninth with two strikeouts. He said he didn’t realize the moment he threw the first and last pitches of his team’s series.

“As far as opening the game, I was a starter and I love starting. It was fun to do that again,” Lambert told the Tribune on Thursday. “I knew I was only going to do one round, but the preparation and launch of the first round was cool.

“(And) we had a good lead (6-0) on Wednesday and they called me. I didn’t even think about it. I’ve seen people say I pitched the first and last innings of the series. I guess that’s pretty cool.

Lambert, who made two starts last season, said he went through normal start preparation on Monday.

“It was good to get back to that routine,” he said.

Jake Burger on the go

Infielder Jake Burger singled in the third inning Thursday to break an 0-for-15 streak.

Later in the inning, he slipped to second for the first stolen base of his career.

“I was texting my buddies about it (after the game and) they were like, ‘It must have been a back flight, first and second,'” Burger said on Friday. “I was like, ‘No, that was straight.'”

Burger sent them video evidence.

“Jake can run,” Grifol said. “I’ve seen players like that over and over again, when they get to first base you don’t pay attention and he picks the right ground to run and he stands at second base and in scoring position.”

Burger scored on Tim Anderson’s single, the team’s first point in a 7-2 loss. He’s 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts this season and is ready to do more if the opportunity arises.

“I know it helps the team to have a runner on second base,” Burger said. “You can score on a single. Any way I can help the team win is huge for me, and I’m glad they give me the nod once in a while.

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