White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez expected to miss Cubs series with foot sprain

The White Sox will be without left fielder Eloy Jimenez in their final regular season series against the Cubs because of a mid-foot sprain sustained in the team’s 5-4 loss to the Indians Thursday.

The White Sox will be without left fielder Eloy Jimenez in their final regular season series against the Cubs because of a mid-foot sprain sustained in the team’s 5-4 loss to the Indians Thursday.

“Right now we’re just straight up day to day,” manager Rick Renteria said. “There is some inflammation in there we want to calm down. We’ll know more where we’re at in a few days after getting it treated.”

The Sox open a three-game series at home against the Cubs trailing the Twins by one game in the AL Central and riding a five-game losing streak after getting swept by the Indians. The first round of the playoffs begins Tuesday.

It’s a significant blow to the Sox lineup that has cooled off a bit in the last week. Whether the injury prevents Jimenez from participating in the postseason isn’t known.

Jimenez, who has been hitting fourth and fifth in the Sox lineup, is batting .296/.332/.559 with 14 homers and 41 RBI. In seven games against the Cubs, who traded him to the Sox in 2016, Jimenez is batting .320/.414/.760 with three homers in seven games.

Adam Engel was in the starting lineup in left field.