April 09--KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After a few days away from his team, left-hander Chris Sale was back with the White Sox on Wednesday and declaring himself "ready to rock" for his first scheduled start of the season Sunday against the Twins.
Sale said he felt fine during his minor-league outings moving side-to-side and fielding, which was among the biggest concerns about his return from a fractured right foot and sprained ankle.
"I'm not too worried about (movement) really," Sale said. "Any so-called pain that's still in there is psychological. You hear about it a lot, guys get hurt and they kind of handicap themselves. I'm trying go forward with what I'm supposed to do."
Sale has not faced major-league hitters this year, but he said that does not bother him as he makes a final tuneup with a bullpen session Friday.
"Hitters are hitters -- it's just a body in the box," Sale said. "You still have to throw quality strikes. It doesn't matter who it is from low A to the big leagues. You make mistakes, anybody can hurt you."
Lineup shifts: Sox manager Robin Ventura started right-handed hitter Gordon Beckham at third base and switch-hitter Carlos Sanchez at second base against Royals left-hander Danny Duffy on Wednesday. They replaced left-handed hitters Conor Gillaspie and Micah Johnson at third and second.
Beckham hit .293 against lefties in 2014, while Gillaspie hit .221, and Ventura said he wanted to see how it worked out against Duffy. The platoon could be an option he uses this season, especially because he considers Beckham a decent defensive replacement.
Sox catcher Tyler Flowers made his second start Wednesday, but Ventura said Geovany Soto will start in Thursday's day game against the Royals. He expects Soto to play at least a couple of times a week and said Soto or Flowers could spend time at designated hitter against some left-handed pitchers.
Flowers caught an unsuccessful Jeff Samardzija outing on opening day, but Soto has more familiarity with Samardzija because they played together with the Cubs and A's.
Petricka progressing: Ventura said injured reliever Jake Petricka, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, could return next week.
