Danks figures to stay in rotation

The White Sox have been trying to give John Danks, their fading rookie starting pitcher, a break.

Friday's doubleheader against the Red Sox provided the opportunity.

Instead of staying on schedule and starting Tuesday, Danks is moving back to Thursday.

Gavin Floyd gets the start Tuesday, when the Sox open a three-game series at Texas.

Danks is 0-6 with a 9.64 ERA in his last 7 starts, and he hasn't won a game since July 16. Overall, the 22-year-old lefty is 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA.

"He hasn't been going good recently,'' said White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. "But don't forget all the good things he did early. A lot of people in this town look at numbers, and numbers to a degree are important. But Danks pitched very well early.''

Starting Game 2 against Boston on Friday, Danks breezed through the first three innings, allowing just 1 single. But he was out of the game in the fourth after allowing 5 runs on 4 hits.

For the past few weeks, the Sox have talked about taking Danks out of the rotation, either temporarily or for the remainder of the season. Cooper didn't sound like that's going to happen.

"Over the last handful of starts, it hasn't gone the way he has wanted it to,'' Cooper said. "But we want him to go through everything because our hopes are that all the opportunities and experience he is gaining, whether it's a good game or bad game, you can get just as much information from a tough game and improve even there, too. We are hoping it pays off in the future.''

Injury update: Jim Thome was held out of Friday's doubleheader with back spasms, and the 36-year-old designated hitter was sidelined again Saturday.

Thome hit in the indoor batting cage before the game and he should be able to play today.

"It usually takes a day or two (to go away),'' Thome said. "I felt good today when I got up.''

Scott Podsednik (strained right ribcage muscle) was held out again Saturday, and he could be headed for the disabled list again.

Podsednik has missed the Sox' last four games, although he pinch ran Wednesday.

Make me laugh: White Sox starter Mark Buehrle had an unusual unassisted putout in the fourth inning.

Leading off, Boston's David Ortiz dribbled a grounder to the left of the mound. Buehrle gloved the ball and waited to make the tag.

Instead of running into the out, Ortiz veered away from Buehrle and retreated into the Red Sox' dugout.