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Sox’ Guillen weighs merits of six-man rotation

The White Sox are going to give it until the end of the month.

They’ve been using a six-man starting rotation, rather than the standard five-man, since Jake Peavy returned from the disabled list May 11.

So far, it’s hard to argue with the results: Sox starters are 6-2 with a 3.47 ERA since the expansion.

But with four off days coming in June, White Sox starters would be looking at a full week off between outings if the rotation holds.

Manager Ozzie Guillen is aware of the potential problems with having too much downtime, but he likes the flipside, too.

“We’re going to keep it up that way or send somebody to the bullpen,” Guillen said. “It’s kind of a weird situation, but sometimes we need it. We need guys for the stretch.

“At the end of the season, I think this is going to be about pitching and hopefully we have the pitchers very fresh to compete in the end.”

Barring an injury, Phil Humber is likely to head to the bullpen if the Sox switch back to a five-man rotation even though he is having a surprisingly solid season (3-3, 3.10).

It’s an unusual rotation, but there have been no complaints from White Sox starters.

“It’s not bad,” said Edwin Jackson, who got the win Sunday after allowing 1 run on 5 hits in 5⅔ innings.

“It’s definitely something new. It’s baseball; it’s a game of adjustments, so just be ready when it’s your day to pitch.

“It was different the first game, but after that you just go out and pitch, regardless of whether it’s six days or seven days, you have to be mentally prepared to go in and pitch when it’s your day.”

Dunn delivers:After striking out four times Saturday and hearing plenty of boos from the home crowd, Adam Dunn struck out again in the first inning Sunday.But after that, the designated hitter/first baseman drew 3 straight walks and got some rousing applause with a run-scoring single in his final at-bat.Before the game, manager Ozzie Guillen said Dunn wasn#146;t going to be #147;benched#148; for his slow start.#147;If I bench him, I#146;m going to bench him for a day off, not because I#146;m punishing him,#148; manager Ozzie Guillen said.#147;What can I do? This guy#146;s very important in our lineup. When he hits, his presence in the lineup is pretty strong. We#146;re just waiting for him to hit. The only way he#146;s going to hit is by playing.#148;Quentin out again:Carlos Quentin missed his second straight game with a sore left knee, but he is expected to be back in the lineup Monday night in Texas.Brent Lillibridge replaced Quentin again in right field, and he#146;s still batting .295 after going 0-for-4.As manager Ozzie Guillen said after Lillibridge went 2-for-3 and hit a 2-run homer Saturday, he is a #147;spark.#148;#147;That#146;s nice to hear,#148; Lillibridge said. #147;I just try to do something every time I get a chance to play. But we#146;re rolling when the guys that are supposed to be starting are doing well. That#146;s the only way we#146;re going to win consistently. I just hope Q gets healthy.#147;But as bench players, if somebody is banged up it#146;s OK to sit out because we can go out there and do something.#148;