CHICAGO -- Miguel Gonzalez returns to the White Sox rotation Monday in Texas, taking the mound to start the South Siders' six-game road trip.
Whether this return means an extended rotation run in the fifth spot for Gonzalez remains to be seen.
"He'll definitely get a run Monday," said manager Robin Ventura, sticking with his one-game-at-a-time approach. "He's going to get a run Monday, see how many innings he can go.
"You look at what he did in Toronto. To get through a lineup like that, and to be in a spot to earn something, he has a presence about him that he can throw strikes and do what he needs to do to get through it."
John Danks was designated for assignment officially on Thursday, with Erik Johnson coming from Triple-A Charlotte to face the Red Sox. Johnson returned to Charlotte after his five-inning, 108-pitch effort, saying he had more to offer the White Sox than what he showed.
Executive vice president Ken Williams was in Arizona Friday to watch Tim Lincecum's open workout, so the team is exploring outside options. But Gonzalez, 31, earned some confidence during his first White Sox start in Toronto, despite allowing five runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings, while fanning six and walking two.
Scott Carroll was recalled from Charlotte Friday to take Johnson's spot, but Carroll will be used out of the bullpen.
"We know what he can do up here as far as eating up some innings and spot start if you need him to do that," said Ventura of Carroll.
"I'm excited and flew in this morning and I'm ready to go," Carroll said.
Feeling the vibe
Carroll was part of big league Spring Training, so he knew the special feeling starting to manifest itself in the White Sox clubhouse. That feeling has grown with the team's great start, which Carroll has heard about from friends and teammates such as Todd Frazier and Chris Sale.
"Just to see the start they've gotten off to is pretty awesome and you can just tell the energy is really good and I was excited to come up here to be part of that," Carroll said. "When you're winning, it's fun when you've got a good nucleus of guys who come to the ballpark every day. You want to bring that energy and win."
Petricka on the mend
Jake Petricka can't pinpoint when the soreness from his right hip impingement began this season, but he's hoping to get everything right during this present stint on the disabled list.
"Obviously, location has been off," Petricka said. "We were looking at mechanics and stuff with [White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper] and we were getting into a good groove of figuring stuff out, and this kind of popped up. We'll pick up right where we left off when we're done with this."
Avila goes on assignment
Catcher Alex Avila began his injury rehab assignment Friday with Charlotte. Avila, 29, has been on the disabled list since April 24 with a strained right hamstring.