Ramirez might return to lineup Sunday

Alexei Ramirez wasn't in the starting lineup Thursday night, a day after he had to leave the White Sox' game at Minnesota with a sprained ankle following an awkward slide into second base.

Brent Lillibridge was up from Class AAA Charlotte and ready to join the Sox if Ramirez had to go on the disabled list, but he'll head back to the minors this morning.

"The report that we have is the problem's not big," Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said of Ramirez. "I don't want to push, but the way he was feeling today, he was walking a little bit better. This kid doesn't have any meat; everything's bone."

Ramirez could be back in the lineup Sunday.

Guillen said Jayson Nix is likely to play shortstop in Ramirez's absence, with Gordon Beckham remaining at third base.

Trade winds calm: The nonwaiver trade deadline is today at 3 p.m., and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn't sound like GM Kenny Williams is close to swinging any more deals.

"I don't expect anything. I don't," Guillen said. "I told the guys yesterday, joking around in the dugout, I said, 'Don't worry, guys, it's not your fault. It's my fault for telling Kenny Williams I can win with this ballclub.' "

Take a break: Riding a 5-for-25 slump, leadoff man Scott Podsednik was held out of the starting lineup Thursday.

Newcomer Mark Kotsay batted first and played center field.

"When you hit .300 and you never did it, you get nervous," manager Ozzie Guillen said of Podsednik. "No, right now he's not swinging the bat well. I think this kid's been playing every day. I think he's had one day off since he came to this ballclub (on May 1)."

Day of honor: Sox starter Mark Buehrle, who pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay last week and followed up with 52/3 innings of perfect ball at Minnesota on Tuesday, received another honor Thursday.

It was "Mark Buehrle Day" in Illinois and the left-hander accepted a commemorative plaque from Gov. Pat Quinn before the game.

"This is the second one," Buehrle said. "I got one in St. Charles (Mo.) after we won the World Series. They honored me at home, too. I don't even know what to say. You never think they would have a day in two different cities after you."