If healthy, Sox’ Floyd could face Tigers this week
Chris Sale was solid in Saturday’s start against Kansas City, and the White Sox’ left-hander still is scheduled to take the mound against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
But there appears to be a slight chance of Gavin Floyd coming off the disabled list and taking Sale’s spot.
“There’s a chance,” manager Robin Ventura said. “Again, we want to make sure he’s feeling healthy and he can go out there and have every ability to compete. I don’t want him going out there feeling like he has a hand tied behind his back.”
Floyd has been on the DL since Aug. 27 with a right elbow flexor strain. He was shelved with a similar injury in July. If Floyd feels good after Sunday’s side session, pitching Thursday against Detroit makes sense for two reasons.
First, Floyd is a lifetime 7-2 with a 3.42 ERA against the Tigers. Second, his return would give Sale an extra day of rest.
Floyd said he felt fine while throwing sliders and changeups Thursday. On Sunday, he will see how his elbow feels throwing curveballs.
“I think he’s got to have everything,” Ventura said. “If he can’t throw that (curve) enough to feel healthy enough to do that, then he’s not a good pitcher. He has to be able to throw that and feel like he can be effective.”
Out of action:Adam Dunn missed his second straight game Saturday with a strained right oblique. Dunn missed two games at Detroit last weekend with the same injury, but he might be out longer this time.#147;He#146;ll be out a couple of days,#148; manager Robin Ventura said. #147;I think it#146;s just whenever he#146;s ready to go, he#146;s ready to go.#148;Kevin Youkilis is expected back Sunday or Monday after he left the Sox to be with his wife, who gave birth to a baby boy.On the mend:John Danks is still a long ways from throwing a baseball, but the White Sox#146; injured starting pitcher is no longer wearing a sling to support his left shoulder.Danks had season-ending surgery Aug. 6.#147;We are still trying to get range of motion,#148; said Danks, who hopes to start throwing in November. #147;This is the first week out of the sling, so my window has kind of opened up and I#146;m allowed to push it a little more.#147;(Trainer) Herm (Schneider) makes sure I get to my boundaries and maybe even a little beyond. It#146;s good that I#146;m able to get there. They are all pleased with where I#146;m at. I have to go off that.#148;Remembering Mooshil:Joe Mooshil, a legendary sports writer/editor with The Associated Press in Chicago for four decades, died Friday night at 85.#147;The Chicago sports scene has lost a member of the Old Guard today with the passing of Joe Mooshil,#148; White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement.#147;It#146;s probably fitting in a way that he passed away on a fall weekend filled with sports events, because Joe covered them all during his long and honor-filled career.#148;