White Sox reinstate Chris Sale from disabled list; designate Frank Francisco for assignment

CHICAGO - Prior to tonight's game vs. New York, the Chicago White Sox returned left-handed pitcher Chris Sale from his injury rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Charlotte, reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list and designated right-handed pitcher Frank Francisco for assignment.

Sale, 25, was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on April 22 (retroactive to April 18) with a flexor muscle strain in his left arm. He made one rehab start for Class AAA Charlotte in game one of a doubleheader on May 16 at Durham, allowing one hit with 11 strikeouts over 4.0 scoreless IP.

Sale is 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA (7 ER/27.1 IP) and 29 strikeouts in four starts this season, limiting opponents to a .168 (16-95) average, with left-handers going 0-20. Sale posted a no decision in his last start on April 17 vs. Boston, allowing one run on one hit with 10 strikeouts over 7.0 IP.

Francisco, 34, went 0-0 with a 12.27 ERA (5 ER/3.2 IP) in four relief appearances with the White Sox after his contract was purchased from Charlotte on May 10. He was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA (8.0 IP), one save and 12 strikeouts in six appearances with the Knights after signing with the Sox as a minor-league free agent on April 14. 

The White Sox 40-man roster is at 39.