Paulino goes on DL with rotator cuff inflammation

ARLINGTON -- Felipe Paulino was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Saturday's contest with the Rangers due to right rotator cuff inflammation.

Paulino had previously talked about feeling healthy in his comeback attempt from ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery in July, '12 and then having a cyst removed from his shoulder last September. But the right-hander, who has struggled mightily over his four White Sox starts, admitted Saturday that he has felt the soreness for a little bit.

"It's something that's going to be for me for a little while. I try to fight with this," Paulino said. "I can't pitch or function right now. It started bothering me more and more and more.

"I just tried to maybe take a little rest right now. And I'm thinking it will be better for me to rest right now. My shoulder has a little soreness every time."

Through 18 1/3 innings, Paulino, 30, has posted a 0-2 record with an 11.29 ERA. His tough times culminated with Friday's debacle, when he yielded 10 runs on 13 hits over 3 2/3 innings as part of a 12-0 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Park.

Manager Robin Ventura said Saturday that Paulino wasn't able to make his side sessions from his last start to Friday's, which went into Ventura's decision to use infielder Leury Garcia on the mound in the 14th inning Wednesday against Boston instead of Paulino. Ventura added that the thinking was the soreness would go away, and it's also safe to assume that it's easier for Paulino to follow his normal preparatory schedule for a start Friday as opposed to quickly getting ready out of the bullpen.

"He just needs to get better," said Ventura of Paulino. "That's part of getting treated up and then get back to work with Coop [White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper] once he's able to do some side work."

Andre Rienzo was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte and figures to take Paulino's rotation spot Wednesday in Detroit. But if Rienzo is needed in the next day or two in long relief, then the White Sox will worry about that start as the day gets closer.

There's no timetable for Paulino's return, aside from trying to get him in top pitching form.

"My confidence is there. I had a long road back," Paulino said. "Last year was long for me. What happened for me this year just to make it, just to be in games, is good."

"We'll just keep monitoring it," Ventura said. "We'll see how he feels, to get him better where he is actually able to do a sideline and work on stuff."