Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski (oblique) will miss his fifth straight game on Sunday, although he was originally slated to start against the Rangers.

Pierzynski said he feels better and is definitely able to play, but the White Sox opted to keep him out one more day as a precaution. Now the plan is to let Pierzynski start at catcher on Monday and Tuesday against the Twins and give him two more off days on Wednesday and Thursday with the hopes that he will be fully recovered Friday.

""We just decided to give it one more day," Pierzynski said. "With the heat and everything and then with the travel, just didn't want to get dehydrated and have a chance to make it worse. I obviously want to play. I keep telling (manager Robin Ventura) I want to play, but he keeps telling me ‘Go away' basically. It's kind of like I get another All-Star break. I want to play, I want to be out there, but at the same time I see both sides of it. There's a long ways to go and hurting it worse wouldn't do anybody any good."

Alexei Ramirez is back in the lineup at shortstop, but Alejandro De Aza is still out following the two players injuring their wrists on a collision in the outfield during Friday's game. Ventura said that De Aza's wrist is not broken, but he could still be out one or two more days.

With De Aza out and Eduardo Escobar now with the Twins, Gordon Beckham is batting in the leadoff spot for the Sox. It's Beckham's second time leading off this season and while he said he is excited, he insisted the spot belonged to De Aza.

"De Aza's out, so it's just a band-aid until he gets back in there," Beckham said. "You've got to be ready for the game right off the bat, but other than that, it's no different. That's where he belongs and I don't want to leadoff if De Aza's healthy."