Move to DL likely for Thornton, Putz

Besides having fluid in his left elbow that led to a sore left arm, Matt Thornton also has been a sore subject around the South Side in the last week. Specifically, what to do with him?

General manager Ken Williams has made it seem as though roster constraints, as well as a thumbs up from team doctors, were the main reason that another pitcher wasn't added to the mix during the marathon of three games in less than 22 hours over the weekend, while manager Ozzie Guillen has painted a much bleaker picture of Thornton's immediate future -- like one on the 15-day disabled list.

After the victory Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles, it sounded like Guillen's guess that his bullpen needed more arms was right.

According to Guillen, the Sox will add two pitchers this morning, which means Thornton and J.J. Putz likely are headed to the disabled list. Putz reinjured his right knee in the ninth inning Tuesday, and after taking himself out of a game for the second time in the last four days, the Sox likely are shutting him down.

''Well, Thornton is down, Putz is down, we've got to add two guys,'' Guillen said. ''I need some guys that can go out there. I'm not saying we're in trouble, but everyone in the bullpen has to pick it up a notch for at least the next seven days because we won't have Thornton. We have to step it up a notch. We'll figure it out.''

The truly telling comment from Guillen on the state of his bullpen was this:

''It's hard to go there half-naked,'' Guillen said. ''I've got a couple of guys I can't use, and the last guy I want to use out of the bullpen was Bobby [Jenks].''

Jenks did get used, picking up the save after throwing three innings Sunday.

Meanwhile, Thornton explained how relieved he was that the injury wasn't anything major.

''That's the first time in four or five days that it feels better,'' Thornton said. ''They put something in to help dry up the fluid. They didn't draw anything out; they tried. They injected a little something to dry it out, and I feel better [Tuesday] than I did [Monday].

''Fortunately, the MRI shows there's no structural damage. It's a typical pitching elbow, and there's no problem at all for any kind of career-ender, so that's kind of a relief for me and my family that's there's nothing majorly wrong.''

Short hops

Guillen said he felt bad about his tirade after the Sox' loss Sunday to the Kansas City Royals.

''Those guys played, like, 33 innings in two days -- guys pitching three or four innings -- and you hear your manager say that, and it's not a good thing,'' he said. ''But I was upset. I look back on myself and say, 'Those guys give that to you, so how the hell are you talking about them like that?'''

�Mark Teahen returned to the starting lineup after he left the second game Saturday with a bruised right middle finger.

TONIGHT'S GAME - ORIOLES (44-82) AT WHITE SOX (68-57) -

7:10, CH. 26, 670-AM, 1200-AM

Brian Matusz

5-12, 4.97 ERA

Career vs. Sox: 0-0, 1.50

(6 IP this season)

WHITE SOX VS. MATUSZ

A. Rios: 2-for-5, RBI

A. Ramirez: 1-for-3

A.J. Pierzynski: 0-for-3

J. Pierre: 1-for-2

P. Konerko, C. Quentin, A. Jones and B. Lillibridge: 0-for-2

vs.

Mark Buehrle

12-9, 3.87 ERA

'10 vs. Orioles: 0-1, 3.86 (7 IP)

Career vs. O's: 5-4, 2.81

(15 G, 13 GS)

ORIOLES VS. BUEHRLE

B. Roberts: 12-for-36, .333, 2 RBI

N. Markakis: 9-for-20, .450, HR, 3 RBI

C. Patterson: 6-for-16, .375, HR, 3 RBI

T. Wigginton: 4-for-14, .286

C. Izturis: 4-for-13, .308

A. Jones: 2-for-9, RBI

Photo: (See microfilm for photo description).; Photo: Matt Thornton; Photo: J.J. Putz