Jenks headed for disabled list?

How rough of a stretch has it been for Bobby Jenks?

The White Sox' relief pitcher is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 appearances since the all-star break.

After allowing 3 runs in the ninth inning during an Aug. 5 game at Detroit, Jenks was "temporarily" removed from his customary closer's role.

On Thursday, the 29-year-old pitcher took himself out of the game with back spasms.

On Friday, Jenks' run of bad luck continued when he was innocently leaning up against the railing in the Sox' dugout.

Teammate A.J. Pierzynski fouled off a pitch that screamed into the White Sox' dugout and "almost killed" Jenks, according to manager Ozzie Guillen.

He survived, but tumbling backward to dodge the drive didn't help Jenks' back.

He wasn't available against the Tigers on Saturday, and it looks like Jenks is going to land on the disabled list before the Sox open a three-game series at Minnesota Tuesday night.

"Moving around the foul ball, he felt it and that's why we have to go day by day," Guillen said. "I don't think he'll be ready by Tuesday. That's what I think because you can't even move today, all of a sudden Tuesday you're fine. I hope he is, but I've got to go through the worst scenario mentally to be prepared if something happens."

While the White Sox took batting practice before Saturday's game against the Tigers, Jenks was in the clubhouse going through his fan mail and signing autographs.

"It's a muscular thing, so there's not much you can do," Jenks said.

Erick Threets (turf toe) is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, and the left-handed reliever is the likely candidate to take Jenks' roster spot.

Down to the wire: With Alexei Ramirez on first base and two outs in the ninth inning with the Sox trailing 3-2 Saturday, Gordon Beckham brought the crowd to its feet with a deep drive to right field on a 1-0 pitch from Tigers reliever Phil Coke.

Beckham homered to right Friday, but this one died and was caught by Ryan Raburn to end the game.

"I didn't think it was going," Beckham said. "I put a decent swing on it, but as soon as it got up in the air, I knew it wasn't going to go."

Mr. Versatile: After his big return from the disabled list Friday, Mark Teahen was back in the Sox' lineup.

Teahen was the designated hitter Saturday. The night before, he played right field and was 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer.

The White Sox' starting third baseman before fracturing his right middle finger on May 30 and missing more than two months, Teahen is going to play right, third base, first and DH.

"I will move him around," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "The reason we played him in right field yesterday is because (Carlos) Quentin need a day off. We might put him at third base because (Omar) Vizquel is going to need a day off. We might play him at first base because PK (Paul Konerko) will need a day off.

"If he keeps swinging the bat, that's a good problem to have. He also gives me a left-handed hitter to have pinch hit off the bench I can count on."

Teahen was 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts Saturday.