White Sox hoping Shields builds off much better start against Red Sox

If viewed over the entire course of his career, Thursday's start against the Boston Red Sox was average at best for James Shields.

If viewed over his brief run with the Chicago White Sox, Thursday's start was off-the-charts good.

Acquired in a June 4 trade from the San Diego Padres at a cost of $27 million through the 2018 season, Shields allowed 21 earned runs on 24 hits (5 homers) and 9 walks in just 8⅔ innings during his first 3 starts with the Sox.

In his fourth, against the Red Sox, Shields went 5 innings and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits. Not great by any means, but it's something to build on.

"It was a big positive for everybody involved," general manager Rick Hahn said. "He still has a little bit of work to do in terms of getting back to the level he's capable of being at on a consistent basis, but there were a lot of encouraging signs.

"We put a lot on his plate in terms of a handful of areas that there were some issues and he needed to show improvement. He showed improvement in almost all of them, but there's still room for even more."

Abreu sits:

Between all of the running he has been doing as a hot hitter and getting hit by pitches, Jose Abreu was in need of a break to rest his sore legs. The White Sox's first baseman got one Friday.

"He definitely needs (a day off)," manager Robin Ventura said. "He needs to be able to stay off it and not even DH."

Abreu has reached base safely in 20 straight games, hitting .333 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI over the stretch. The Sox need his bat in the lineup, but Abreu wasn't complaining about sitting out the series opener against Toronto.

"Sometimes your legs are getting tired and your hamstring is getting tight and you need a break," Abreu said through a translator. "I needed this day off. You always want to play, but sometimes you also have to realize that the best thing you can do is just to take a break thinking of the future."

Third baseman Todd Frazier replaced Abreu at first base.

Surgery for Putnam?

Relief pitcher Zach Putnam has had two opinions on his ailing right elbow, and surgery appears to be an option.

"It's possible," GM Rick Hahn said. "We are exploring all the options. We want to make sure we have all the possibilities laid out before us. It's just one of the things we are considering."

Putnam last pitched Monday at Boston, and he walked the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Zach Duke came on with no outs and worked out of the jam.

In 25 appearances this season, Putnam has a 2.30 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 27⅓ innings.

Around the horn:

Mark Buehrle watched Friday night's game from a skybox. Buehrle pitched for the White Sox from 2000-11 and the Blue Jays from 2013-15. The 37-year-old starting pitcher is thought to be retired … The Sox officially signed top draft pick Zach Collins on Friday. The Miami all-American catcher, selected No. 10 overall earlier this month, agreed to a $3,380,600 signing bonus.