Abreu starts at DH with ankle soreness

CHICAGO -- Jose Abreu moved from first base to designated hitter for the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to a sore left ankle.

Although Abreu looked to be running at less than 100 percent during Thursday's 12-5 loss to the Cubs, he played down the issue before Friday's contest at U.S. Cellular Field.

"It's not in an injury. It's bothering me a little bit," said Abreu through interpreter and White Sox manager of cultural development Lino Diaz. "We don't know exactly where it's coming from. It might be from playing, but it's nothing alarming."

"He's just sore," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "He hits a lot of balls off his ankles. He hasn't felt comfortable enough to wear that brace. But I think tonight just to keep him off first base. Hopefully it settles down and he's all right."

Ventura described the issue as general soreness behind the ankle, but no structural damage. It's in the same ankle that bothered Abreu during Spring Training but in a different spot, and there's no fear that Abreu can do any sort of increased damage by being out on the field running the bases.

"You see him limping around. He says he's fine," Ventura said. "But it's hard to watch him limping around. You think it might be getting worse. So tonight we can DH him."

"I'll play every day," said Abreu, who has made 34 starts at first base and two including Friday at DH. "It's not that bad."