Abreu returns to White Sox lineup at DH
Prospects May, Anderson hurt in outfield collision
ARLINGTON -- Jose Abreu returned to the White Sox starting lineup Wednesday against the Rangers after missing the previous three games because of a swollen right index finger. Abreu started at designated hitter and figures to stay there for the short term, as the injury is on his throwing hand, with Adam LaRoche moving to first base.
"If something happens, we wouldn't have to do the thing we did the other day where we had [Tyler Flowers] going to first base," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Designated hitter is the safest spot, and having LaRoche over at first. If something happens, we can adjust."
Abreu hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, during a six-run second inning and then tallied an RBI single in the seventh as the White Sox eased to a 9-2 victory Wednesday night.
Video: CWS@TEX: Abreu smacks two-run homer to continue rally
• Jacob May was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list and Tim Anderson will miss a couple of days with bruised ribs after two of the White Sox top prospects collided going for a fly ball in short center during Double-A Birmingham's contest with Biloxi on Tuesday. Anderson sits as the team's No. 2 prospect, according to MLB.com, with a .316 average and 19 stolen bases this season. May, ranked No. 14, has a .311 average with 25 stolen bases.
Video: White Sox prospect Tim Anderson hits for the cycle
• Jesse Crain and Nate Jones both worked in a simulated game Tuesday in Arizona and are scheduled to throw in another one Friday. A Minor League rehab assignment would be the next sign that the relievers are close to returning to the big leagues
• Matt Albers had the pins removed from the pinkie finger on his right hand and currently is rehabbing the injury. Albers, who posted a 1.59 ERA over four games for the White Sox this season, sustained the original injury to his hand during the team's bench-clearing brawl with the Royals on April 23. The injury then required a surgical correction, leaving the right-handed reliever out of action for a more extended period.