Sale throws bullpen, seems set to go Tuesday

CHICAGO -- Chris Sale threw a bullpen session prior to Sunday's series finale with the Marlins, and the White Sox ace appears all but set to take his rotation turn on Tuesday against the Cubs. Sale had been skipped on Wednesday, due to a mild case of tendinitis in the back of his throwing shoulder.

With Sale sitting at the top of the White Sox rotation, featuring a 23-inning scoreless streak along with a five-year, $32.5 million commitment made by the team to him, there would seem to be extra caution taken with the southpaw by the organization. But pitching coach Don Cooper reiterated on Sunday a point made earlier in the week by manager Robin Ventura -- that any pitcher with that sort of soreness would have been treated the same way.

"I'll stand by our record at the Major League level with keeping people healthy," Cooper said. "But I have concern with all of our pitchers. That's our No. 1 goal ... to stay healthy. If you can stay healthy, then we can run you out there and let you do the things we envision you doing."

White Sox hurlers are tied with Detroit for the AL lead in quality starts at 29. Those same starters have a 14-8 record and 2.83 ERA with 23 quality starts over the last 33 games entering Sunday.

"There will be times a guy has a day that you don't expect," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Other than that -- as far as stuff, the way they compete, the way that as a unit they kind of pull for each other and help each other -- it's been great. It's been one of our strengths, and we knew that going in."