Liner puts Peavy start up in air

The Jake Peavy guessing game continued Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Is the White Sox' new starting pitcher going to be able to make his debut Saturday against New York at Yankee Stadium? Will he pitch Sunday?

Or, does Peavy need to make a fourth rehab start with Class AAA Charlotte after taking a line drive off his right (pitching) elbow in Monday's outing against Gwinnett?

Let's answer with maybe, maybe and maybe.

Speaking to reporters before the White Sox lost to the Red Sox 6-3 in Boston on Tuesday night, Peavy said he probably would have been ready to go Saturday, but that's up in the air after he was struck by a Wes Timmons liner in the fifth inning.

He retired the next hitter and exited the game.

Peavy initially said "it didn't hit me that hard" after throwing 5 scoreless innings against Gwinnett, but the former San Diego Padres ace was telling a different story in Boston a day later.

"I think the decision (to start Saturday for the White Sox) would have been easier to make if a ball hadn't hit me square on the elbow," Peavy said.

"Obviously, getting hit was not what we expected, not what we wanted, especially after the first few innings were encouraging.

"The effort last night was encouraging. I felt quite a bit better than I had in the previous two. This is a tiny setback, but we just have to wait and see how it feels.

"I didn't play any catch today. Tomorrow or Thursday, I'll go on the mound and try to flush some of this soreness out."

Peavy is a workhorse starter, and pitching complete games is always his goal. But considering he has been on the disabled list (right ankle) since early June, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner realizes he probably will have to help the White Sox in shorter stretches for a while.

He is hoping to get started at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

"I can promise you this, every part of me wants to be out there in a great venue against a great team giving my team a chance to win," Peavy said.

"I might not be ready to throw 7 to 9 innings, but I believe I can go out there and give us somewhat of a chance to win.

"But it's so much up in the air with getting hit. I felt like I was getting close. It's tough."