• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Peavy returns to hill in Anaheim

May 11, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - The last time Jake Peavy took the mound he suffered a detached latissimus dorsi muscle on his throwing side July 6, 2010 against the LA Angels of Anaheim at U.S. Cellular Field.

Coincidentally, the Chicago White Sox right-hander will make his anticipated season debut tonight against the familiar Angels in the rubber match of a three-game series at the Big A. Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner with San Diego, underwent experimental right shoulder surgery to reattach the tendon that anchors the latissimus dorsi muscle to the back of the shoulder.

Peavy was recently bothered by right rotator cuff tendinitis and discomfort from scar tissue, but appears to be ready to go tonight. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen may be forced to use a six-man rotation if Peavy's able to go unscathed health-wise against Anaheim.

"I'd love to see him pitch because that's the only reward he's going to get," Guillen said on the club's site. "Since last year, he's been checking doctors and rehab and the bullpens and Minor League games.

"He went through everything. I bet you he can't wait to pitch and stay here and help us every five to seven days."

Many believe Peavy is rushing his return to the majors since an injury like this usually requires about a year for recovery. However, Peavy said he's a competitor and doesn't feel the shoulder will be at risk when he takes the mound for the first time in 2011. Peavy was acquired by Chicago from the Padres in 2009 and won all three of his starts with the Pale Hose that season.

He then went 7-6 with a 4.63 ERA in 17 starts a year ago before a meeting with the Angels took him out of action. He lasted 1 2/3 innings in that early July start against the Halos and allowed one hit with a walk and two strikeouts.

Peavy aims to pitch the White Sox a series victory tonight after rotation mate John Danks fell to 0-6 on the season with Tuesday's 6-2 loss. Danks gave up all six runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings.

"Today John didn't bring much stuff," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He just had a bad game. He got hit pretty good."

Paul Konerko homered and Alexei Ramirez recorded three hits and a run scored for Chicago, which had a season-best three-game winning streak stopped and fell to 2-3 on a nine-game road trip which includes a visit to Oakland for three contests. The White Sox are also 4-9 in their past 13 games overall.

The Angels have won five of their last seven games and received a solid start from Joel Pineiro last night, as the right-hander held the White Sox in check with 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball. He struck out five and walked one batter for the Halos, who are 3-2 on a six-game residency.

"They came out aggressive and I had a lot of early pitch count outs," Pineiro said. "It's good to be back out here."

Alberto Callaspo drove in three runs and Maicer Izturis homered, while Howie Kendrick had a pair of doubles and an RBI for the Angels, who will hit the road for seven games against Texas, Oakland and Seattle following tonight's tilt with Chicago.

Angels rookie Tyler Chatwood will make his seventh start of the season Wednesday and is 2-1 with a 4.08 earned run average through the first six. Chatwood has posted back-to-back no-decisions and had arguably his best outing of his young career in Friday's 2-1 win in 11 innings versus Cleveland.

Chatwood fired a season-high eight innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts and five walks. Torii Hunter didn't drive in the winning run until the bottom of the 11th, when Chatwood was out of the running for a victory.

The right-hander earned his first major league win at the White Sox on April 16 at U.S. Cellular Field, hurling seven innings and allowing one run on five hits in a 7-2 triumph.

Anaheim swept a three-game set in Chicago from April 15-17 this season after the White Sox recorded seven straight wins to wrap up the 2010 series.