Bullpen in limbo

Scott Linebrink's first save for the White Sox didn't come easy Sunday during their 4-3 win over Oakland. He allowed a run before stranding the tying and go-ahead runs on Jack Cust's flyout to right.

The White Sox might have to get used to more ninth innings like that with closer Bobby Jenks still sidelined with an ailing left shoulder.

Jenks received negative results from MRI and CT scans Saturday. He was supposed to throw on the side Sunday, but he only made a few throws.

"We'll see how he reacts the next couple days," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He hasn't thrown on the side yet. We'll have to make the decision Tuesday or Wednesday."

On Saturday, trainer Herm Schneider hoped Jenks could return Tuesday in Kansas City. That might not happen.

"If Bobby isn't responding well the next couple days then we've got to do something about it," Guillen said. "It's not necessary to take a chance or take a risk with him. Hopefully when we come back from the All-Star Game we'll come back full strength."

Esteban Loaiza did throw a bullpen session Sunday. On the disabled list since June 12 with right-shoulder inflammation, Loaiza faces an uncertain future.

"We're going to check him," Guillen said. "If he is throwing 80, 82 (mph), that might get people out, but that's not going to impress anyone. ... Then (after a few more bullpen sessions) we make the decision of what we are going to do, keep him here or send him to the minors or let him go."

Loaiza started the season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who released him in May after he went 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA. He appeared in three games with the Sox, allowing 1 run in 3 innings.

Whatever the decision, Guillen doesn't want to leave Loaiza in limbo. The 36-year-old won 21 games for the White Sox in 2003.

"I don't like to play with players," Guillen said. "I like to tell the truth. You are going to help us or you are not."

Home sweet home: All good things must come to an end, and for the White Sox that means their longest stretch of home games this season.

Home certainly has been good to the Sox, where they are 32-13. Sunday's game marked the finale in a stretch of 26 of 32 games in Chicago (counting three at Wrigley Field).

The White Sox won 19 of those 23 home games, including sweeps of the Minnesota Twins and the Cubs.

Now the trick comes in playing close to that level on the road, where they are 19-24.

"Like I keep saying, we can't sit here and wait to get home to win games," Guillen said. "We cannot play worse than what we have been playing on the road."

Staying fresh: Paul Konerko is expected back Tuesday night.

With Nick Swisher filling in for Konerko at first base and Jim Thome entrenched at DH, Guillen said he will look for chances to rest each in the second half.

"Second half we have to play J.T., Paulie, Swisher, we may move them around a little bit to keep everybody fresh and give everybody playing time," Guillen said. "Because we are going to need them. It is going to get more humid. We have to be aware of Thome playing every day.

"We'll figure it out. We have a plan to do it. Hopefully the plan we have in mind works out for us."