White Sox send slumping Sheets to Class AAA Charlotte

Gavin Sheets came to the plate as a pinch-hitter with two on and two outs in the ninth inning of Thursday afternoon's game against the Dodgers.

Sheets struck out to end the game, an 11-9 loss for the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

It was a tough spot, and another setback in a difficult season for Sheets.

Before Friday night's game against Texas, he was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte.

Expected to provide needed left-handed production for the Sox like he did as a rookie last year, Sheets hit .204/.268/.328 with 4 home runs and 10 RBI in 44 games.

"He wasn't himself," White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. "You watch the work that he's doing and you see his frustration. He just kept pressing. We just think the timing was right. We can use the extra arm and I think it works well for Gavin and I think he'll get it fixed because we need that balance that he brings us."

Right-handed pitcher Jimmy Lambert was recalled from Charlotte to take Sheets' roster spot.

Lambert is 0-2 with a 5.14 ERA in 3 games (2 starts) with the Sox. In 5 starts at Triple-A, he was 0-3 with a 9.24 ERA.

Lynn update:

Although it's not official, Lance Lynn is expected to come off the injured list and make his first start of the season Tuesday at Detroit.

"My understanding is he's good to go Tuesday, and I'm excited about it," manager Tony La Russa said. "We're excited about it."

Lynn went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 3 rehab starts with Class AAA Charlotte after having April 5 surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right knee.

Blame game:

Overlooked in Thursday's loss to the Dodgers was third baseman Jake Burger's error in the fifth inning that Los Angeles exploited for 6 unearned runs off White Sox starter Dylan Cease.

Burger booted an Austin Barnes groundball that should have been an inning-ended double play.

"Lost a game today, I take full responsibility for that," Burger said. "I need to be better in the field. It's going to be haunting me for a while. I'll be thinking about it every single time I go out there and give 100% effort. All I can do is move forward and work as hard as I can."