Sox place Putz, Thornton on disabled list

Prior to tonight's game vs. Baltimore, the Chicago White Sox placed right-handed pitcher J.J. Putz (right knee patella tendinitis) and left-hander Matt Thornton (left elbow inflammation, retroactive to August 18) on the 15-day disabled list.

To take their place on the roster, the White Sox recalled right-hander Lucas Harrell from Class AAA Charlotte and returned left-hander Erick Threets from his rehabilitation assignment at Charlotte and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list.

Thornton, 33, is 3-4 with a 2.66 ERA (14 ER/47.1 IP) and 66 strikeouts in 50 appearances this season. He leads American League relievers in strikeouts, ranks second in strikeouts per 9.0 IP (12.17) and is tied for sixth with 20 holds.

Putz, 33, left last night's game against the Orioles after throwing three pitches. He has gone 6-5 with a 2.68 ERA (14 ER/47.0 IP) and 55 strikeouts in 50 games this season, his first with the White Sox. Putz ranks among the AL relief leaders in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3rd, 5.00), wins (T3rd), strikeouts per 9.0 IP (6th, 10.53) and opponents average (7th, .195).

Harrell, 25, is 10-10 with a 4.24 ERA (70 ER/137.2 IP) and 84 strikeouts in 26 starts with Charlotte in 2010.

Harrell was the winning pitcher in his major-league debut on July 30 vs. Oakland after being recalled from Charlotte prior to the game. He allowed one run on four hits over 6.0 IP to become the first White Sox starting pitcher to win his major-league debut since Kip Wells on August 2, 1999 at Detroit.

Threets, 28, has been on the disabled list since August 3 (retroactive to July 31) with turf toe on his left great toe. He made three relief appearances with Charlotte on a rehabilitation assignment, allowing one earned run in 4.0 IP.

Threets was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA (9.1 IP) in nine appearances with the White Sox after his contract was purchased from Charlotte on June 27.