CHICAGO -- White Sox right-hander Miguel González, who suffered a strained right groin while pitching against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 11, said Saturday that he's feeling better and is hoping to throw off a mound on Sunday.
"Feeling better, a lot better," Gonzalez said. "I think yesterday and the day before, about 80 percent, 75-80 percent."
Gonzalez and the team haven't talked about a Minor League rehab assignment as yet. He suffered the same injury while with the Orioles in 2015, so he knew what to expect. But it remains frustrating, considering his 3.31 ERA over six second-half starts when the injury occurred.
"It's tough to swallow, especially the way it was going," Gonzalez said. "I just have to keep grinding it out, man. I feel much better now, hopefully tomorrow see how it feels, figure it out and we'll go from there."
Garcia goes on injury rehab assignment
Avisaíl García began his injury rehab assignment on Saturday by going 1-for-4 with two strikeouts and one walk as the designated hitter for Triple-A Charlotte. Garcia has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 9 (retroactive to Aug. 7) with a sprained right knee.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura hoped for catcher Alex Avila (strained right hamstring) to begin a rehab assignment next week. Brett Lawrie, currently on an injury rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham testing a strained left hamstring that has kept him out since July 22, finished 0-for-2 at second base before exiting after four innings Saturday. Lawrie had not played since leaving Wednesday's game early due to quad soreness.
Saladino out of action for second straight day
Tyler Saladino missed a second straight game due to a sore back. Saladino also could miss Sunday's series finale, meaning he would have four straight days off with Monday's scheduled off-day.
"He can play, but it's just better that he gets a little time off," Ventura said. "Just playing every day thing. He's been playing pretty good; getting on base, getting a lot of things that, for a while, he wasn't doing. Right now, it's caught up to him."
With Saladino sidelined, the White Sox have catcher Omar Narváez and outfielder J.B. Shuck as their lone bench options.