Youkilis gets rest in advance of Tigers series

BALTIMORE -- With infielder Jose Lopez called up prior to Thursday's game, White Sox manager Robin Ventura has additional flexibility to give players time off, including third baseman Kevin Youkilis, who was out of the starting lineup against the Orioles.

Ventura said the roster move gave him the opportunity to give Youkilis a rest for the day game following a night game and with the team traveling to Detroit for a key weekend series against the Tigers. Lopez started Thursday at third base.

"It's a day game and Youk's knee has kind of been barking the last couple of days," Ventura said. "Just clean it up and have him ready for [Friday]."

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski returned to the starting lineup Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's game. He is hitless in his last 14 at-bats and is 5-for-32 (.156) over his past 10 games.