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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox's need to pay cash for a backup outfielder Monday brings to light all of the issues that have continued to torment highly-regarded prospect Jared Mitchell.

The former first-round draft pick, whom the White Sox continue to hold in high regard, can't seem to catch a break and the White Sox's acquisition of Casper Wells from the Oakland Athletics on Monday only seems to highlight that.

The early-season injury to Dayan Viciedo, and the fact that the team started the season with only four outfielders, has brought the White Sox's major-league ready depth into focus. On the lower levels, the White Sox have some of the most impressive outfield talent around, but when it comes to players who can jump into the major leagues now, it isn't nearly as strong.

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CHICAGO -- It’s getting to the point that you can’t spot a White Sox player without trying to figure out his latest injury.

Jeff Keppinger was not in the starting lineup Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays because of back spasms and Dewayne Wise was a late scratch because of a sore neck. The White Sox were already without starters Gordon Beckham (hand) and Dayan Viciedo (side), who are on the disabled list.

Then there is starter John Danks, who had shoulder surgery last summer, and Angel Sanchez, the utility infielder who is dealing with a strained lower back.

For a franchise that has used the least number of DL days over the past decade, it’s as if injuries are catching up to them all at once.

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CHICAGO – Just because he was a third baseman during his playing days, doesn’t mean that Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura can’t throw a sneaky curveball.

Whether or not this one is a hanging curve out over the plate will be determined soon.

Ventura made wholesale changes to his lineup Saturday, getting a number of players from the bench a chance to stretch their legs for an extended period. Dewayne Wise, Conor Gillaspie and Hector Gimenez all will get starts.

It comes, though, with the White Sox facing Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, the same Hernandez who is one victory and five strikeouts away from becoming just the fourth player with 100 victories and 1,500 strikeouts before the age of 27.

“You get the 12 o’clock start and you know it just gets the guys in there who haven’t been in there yet as far as playing and starting,” Ventura said. “It gets them at-bats. (Hernandez) is tough on righties too.”

Dayan Viciedo, Paul Konerko and Tyler Flowers all will start Saturday’s game on the bench, leaving the club at a significant power disadvantage.

Alejandro De Aza will stay put in the leadoff spot, but Wise will bat second. Alex Rios and Adam Dunn stay in their Nos. 3 and 4 spots respectively, but Jeff Keppinger moves down to the No. 5 hole, while Gillaspie bats sixth, Alexei Ramirez bats seventh, Gimenez bats eighth and Gordon Beckham brings up the rear in the nine spot. The new look gets four left-handed bats and one switch hitter into the mix against the right-handed Hernandez.

In other twists, starting center fielder De Aza moves over to left field while Wise plays in center, while Gillaspie plays third base and Keppinger moves to first.

There were so many changes, in fact that Ventura made mistakes in his original lineup, needing white-out to correct them. He accidentally put Giminez in the No. 6 spot and Gillaspie in the No. 8 spot before making some quick edits.

“No, I just wrote it down wrong and I looked at it,” Ventura said. “I wasn’t thinking that hard. It was a quick turnaround (from Friday night).”

CHICAGO – Forget about the three errors the Chicago White Sox made Wednesday, they still prefer to look at themselves as a solid defensive club.

Alexei Ramirez, Dayan Viciedo and Dewayne Wise all were charged with errors in a victory over the Kansas City Royals, with Viciedo figuring into Ramirez's miscue when he bumped into the shortstop on a popup.

"I think that obviously we proved it last year that we can be pretty good and I think we're very good again," said second baseman Gordon Beckham, who continued to show improvement on defense last season. "Obviously you make three errors in a game and it's not going to look like the best defense in the game, but I think that was kind of anomaly. That won't happen much, I know that."

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The "savvy-veteran" tag won’t exactly qualify when talking about the Chicago White Sox bench this season.

Dewayne Wise, who will serve as the fourth outfielder and main left-handed bat off the bench, actually fits that bill, but it doesn’t really apply anywhere else.

Also in reserve roles this season will be Rule 5 pickup Angel Sanchez as the utility man, recently acquired Conor Gillaspie as the backup at third base and Hector Gimenez as a 30-year-old backup catcher with practically no major league experience.

With just two left-handed hitters in the starting lineup, Wise could see a decent amount of playing time as the fourth outfielder, but not if the starters are producing. At first glance, his best chance to play could come in place of left fielder Dayan Viciedo, who struggled against right-handed pitching last season.

Even though Sanchez can play multiple positions it’s actually Gillaspie that could see more playing time. The lefty-swinging Gillaspie could be used to give third baseman Jeff Keppinger a day off or when Keppinger slides over to second base to give Gordon Beckham a breather.

Sanchez is expected to primarily be used when Alexei Ramirez gets a day off. He better get used to sitting because Ramirez played in 158 games each of the past two seasons.

As a switch hitter Gimenez also gives manager Robin Ventura the potential to get a left-handed bat into the mix every once in a while. He doesn’t figure to play more than once a week, though.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

The challenge with having young players on the bench is getting them the consistent at-bats to keep them fresh and their swings in sync. Since Gillaspie is primarily a third baseman, with the ability to play some first base, getting him some playing time will be challenging for Ventura.

To be frank, not going to the bench much at all means things are going right with the starting lineup. Since Wise is the only true outfielder on the roster outside of the three starters, he becomes extremely important. His challenge will be to seamlessly transition into the outfield if and when the first injury arrives.

That player who can come off the bench and crush a late-inning home run isn’t available. That means the subs will have to contribute in other areas. The offense will be hit and miss, which is understandable, but the defense the bench guys give will have no margin for error. Gimenez figures to have the most defensive weight on his shoulders with the expectation that he gets on the same page with the starting pitcher on the infrequent days he is behind the plate.

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract with veteran outfielder Dewayne Wise.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox's playoff chances are fading quickly after another offensive meltdown Thursday evening.

The 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays was similar to many of the team's failures during this losing streak that has consumed the club. Chicago has lost eight of their past nine games and has seen a lead of three games become a deficit of two in the American League Central Division in just 11 days.

Robin Ventura’s team had the bases loaded with nobody out in both the fourth and fifth innings and only managed to score once in each. The lack of run production took the zip out of a stellar performance by starter Jake Peavy, who allowed just two runs in 7 1/3 innings and suffered a no-decision.

"Jake was pitching great," Ventura said. "He had given us everything that you need [to win]. Tonight it was about if you don't execute you are not going to win."

The Sox, of course, did not execute, and once again were awful with men in scoring position going 1-for-8 at the plate and are now 9-for-73 in their past 10 games as they have gone 2-8.

They had a man on first and nobody out in the eighth inning and failed in two areas to do the little things. Pinch-runner Jordan Danks was called out on an appeal play when he failed to touch second base after running past the base on a fly ball. Danks failed to touch second on the way back to first base. That play was preceded by pinch-hitter Dewayne Wise failing to get a bunt down to advance Danks into scoring position.

"If you don't do the fundamental things you aren't going to win," Ventura said. "It is that simple. We had opportunities late. We did not do the fundamental things and it has been for a while now that we haven't done the things to be successful."

Peavy, who may have pitched his last home game as a Sox starter, took the blame for not pitching better. In reality he did a good job of holding down a hot Rays team that has now won eight straight games. The Sox hold an option of buying out the pitcher's $22 million contract for $4 million. Peavy and his teammates are seemingly seeing their once hopeful season slip away.

"I think everybody will take accountability for the way we played," Peavy said. "We had it right there in front of us a lot of tonight and the last week and a half. We just have not been able to do it."

The Tigers and Sox still have six games each to play, but Detroit's magic number is now at five.

ANAHEIM -- A quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.

How it happened: Sox starter Jose Quintana put himself and the team in a four-run hole in the first. The rookie left-hander walked two and made a bad error on a simple bunt play. All three of those runners scored. Quintana faced nine batters and threw 37 pitches in the inning. Paul Konerko got a run back in the second, driving a 3-2 breaking ball out of the park off Angels starter Dan Haren for his 24th home run. Manager Robin Ventura was ejected for arguing a balk called on Quintana and Konerko for trying an illegal pick-off. It was the fourth ejection for Ventura this season. The Sox added a run on a Dewayne Wise groundout in the seventh, scoring Alex Rios.

What it means: Although the White Sox are technically a half game ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, the division is back to a virtual tie. Both teams are even in the loss column. Detroit’s 8-0 win against Minnesota on Saturday put the Sox’s magic number on hold. Detroit plays a double header on Sunday to make up for a Friday rainout .

Outside the box: The hitting slumps for Kevin Youkilis, Konerko and Adam Dunn were at 10-for-72 on the current road trip before Konerko’s home run. White Sox pitchers made two errors on easy bunts. Expect extra pitchers fielding practice the rest of the season.

Up next: The final game of the series Sunday matches the White Sox’s Gavin Floyd (10-10, 4.50 ERA) against Angels ace Jered Weaver (18-4, 2.79).

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Life is good for outfielder Dewayne Wise, who has had a big impact on the Chicago White Sox's sustained success since returning to the team.

The journeyman has reinvented himself as an offensive threat to go along with his defensive prowess. If not for a quirky trade that sent All Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to the New York Yankees, Wise would still be playing in New York.

“I really enjoyed my time over there,” Wise said. “Everyone is very professional over there as well. When you sign with New York you already know what you are getting into. It is a great place to play, especially when you are doing well.”

Wise’s strong play has forced Sox manager Robin Ventura to use a platoon of Dayan Viciedo, Alejandro De Aza and himself over the past three weeks of the season. Great defense aside, Wise is hitting .310 with eight extra base hits and nine RBIs over his last 17 games. The long ball has been a new part of Wise’s offensive arsenal. He has eight home runs this season, five since coming back to Chicago.

“It’s crazy how my career has varied to this point,” Wise said. “I always felt like I could play up here. It is all about getting the chance. I have never had the amount of big league at-bats that I have had this season.”

The 34-year-old Wise signed a contract with the White Sox on Aug. 3, one day after getting his release from the Yankees. The Sox were looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder who could play defense and run a little bit. They approached the Chicago Cubs about a trade for Tony Campana and were turned down. They also talked about resigning 2005 World Series hero Scott Podsednik before giving Wise a chance.

“I am really glad to be back,” said Wise, who up until this season was best known for “The Catch”, saving Mark Buehrle’s perfect game with a homer-saving grab of Gabe Kapler’s ninth-inning drive. “So many people in the organization have been great to me and I’m happy to pay back in any small way I can.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- After a couple of bad losses to the Kansas City Royals, Robin Ventura is looking for a different focus from his Chicago White Sox.

The anxious Sox were all about trying to do too much in their last two games. Bad baserunning decisions by Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios cost the team potential runs that could have turned Thursday’s loss into a win.

“I don’t know if the games change,” Ventura said. “What you do is try to put that out of your mind. If you get caught up in (big-game thinking) your mind can start thinking about other things besides the game.”

Ventura’s subtle approach can be direct when he is upset with the players’ approach to these crucial September games.

“It doesn’t do you any good to think about Sunday’s game on Friday,” Ventura said. “Unless you want to lose on Friday, that is. I don’t think things are that hard now because they realize the games are important so you have to be focused on what you are doing. It is fun to play the game that night instead of thinking ahead.”

That was the manager’s message to a few of his players who have been pressing.

“No one is doing things on purpose,” Ventura said. “Sometimes guys are trying to do more than you need to do.”

Dewayne Wise made a bad baserunning decision on Monday, costing the Sox a run by being aggressive in a situation that called for caution. Even an experienced player like Wise can outthink situations when big games are on the line, as he did by trying to advance on a sacrifice fly before Gordon Beckham could do the same from third base.

“When you try to do too much, that is when you get in trouble,” Wise said. “That is when you make silly mistakes -- mistakes that you normally would not make. With 12 or 13 games left, guys have to be themselves, just let the next guy pick you up. That is how we got to this point, playing the right way.”

It can be pointed out that the manager delivered that message one-on-one to numerous players prior to this weekend’s series in Anaheim.

CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 7-3 win over the New York Yankees at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday.

How it happened: White Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis may have changed uniforms since leaving the Boston Red Sox, but he showed he can still torment the Yankees. Youkilis hit his third career grand slam Tuesday to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning. White Sox starter Francisco Liriano had trouble with the Yankees in the first inning, allowing two runs, but he settled down to pick up the win. He allowed six hits, two runs, three walks and struck out seven in six innings. Paul Konerko also homered for the White Sox, giving them 37 home runs in August, and Dewayne Wise had a career-high four hits. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hit a home run on the game’s first pitch.

What it means: The White Sox remained two games ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. The Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Outside the box: With Tuesday’s win, the White Sox clinched the season’s series with the Yankees. The last time they accomplished that was in 2003.

Up next: The White Sox will start Chris Sale (14-4, 2.72) against Yankees starter Phil Hughes (12-10, 4.23) in the series finale on Wednesday.

CHICAGO -- Don’t get Dewayne Wise wrong. It’s not that he’ll ever enjoy sitting at home and waiting for a team to call while the season is underway.

It irritates him he has to go through that, and he hates the feeling of being without baseball while baseball is being played.

It’s just Wise has come to accept that uncertainty is part of his career. He’s been signed as a free agent 12 times, claimed off waivers twice and been drafted twice. Through it all, he’s never doubted eventually some team will ring his phone.

The 34-year-old Wise was dealt that hand again last month when he was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and then released by the New York Yankees after they acquired Ichiro Suzuki. Wise returned home to South Carolina for a week and a half and waited to hear from someone.

“I’m pretty used to it,” Wise said. “It’s something been going on for awhile now. I’ve been designated, going through the whole waiver thing. It’s just something that I’ve been through. I just don’t let it get me down. I just sit around, wait and see what happens.

“Of course, you worry. You don’t want the season to end in July. Sitting at home watching TV, seeing all of your ex-teammates and some of your friends still playing baseball. I just had a couple days to myself. I knew somebody would call. I’m just glad the right team called.”

The right team was the Chicago White Sox.

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CHICAGO -- Here’s a quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 9-6 win over the New York Yankees at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday.

How it happened: The White Sox and Yankees went blow for blow on Monday. The Yankees went up 3-0, and the White Sox responded by taking a 5-3 lead. The Yankees rallied to take a 6-5 lead, and the White Sox tied the game at 6-6. In the seventh inning, the White Sox finally went ahead for good as Alexei Ramirez broke the tie with a two-run home run. Dewayne Wise, Gordon Beckham and Adam Dunn also homered for the White Sox. Derek Jeter led the Yankees with four hits, including a double and a home run. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd lasted 2 1/3 innings and allowed five hits, three runs, four walks and hit one batter. Addison Reed picked up his 22nd save.

What it means: The White Sox snapped their three-game losing streak and extended their first-place lead in the American League Central to two games over the Detroit Tigers, who didn’t have a game on Monday.

Outside the box: Kevin Youkilis' 1,000th career hit no longer came on Saturday. On Monday, Major League Baseball reversed an official’s ruling from Thursday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, and Youkilis was credited with a hit. That was his 999th hit, and he later recorded his 1,000th hit later in the game.

Up next: Francisco Liriano (4-10, 5.22) will start for the White Sox, and the Yankees will counter with Ivan Nova (11-6, 4.76) on Tuesday.

Here's a quick look at the Chicago White Sox's 9-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday:

HOW IT HAPPENED: Dewayne Wise gave starter Gavin Floyd an early lead to work with, driving in four runs in the first four innings. His fly ball near the stands was dropped by a diving Edwin Encarnacion, scoring A.J. Pierzynski and Alexei Ramirez in the second inning. Wise followed that up with a two-run home run to right field in the fourth inning, putting the Sox up 4-0. The Jays picked up a run in the fifth inning when Omar Vizquel, trying to steal third, was hit by the throw from catcher Pierzynski after third baseman Kevin Youkilis did not cover third and scored. The Jays tied it 4-4 in the sixth inning thanks to a three-run home run by Kelly Johnson. But Adam Dunn matched him in the top of the seventh, crushing a pitch from Brad Lincoln over the right field wall for a three-run home run, his major league-leading 34th of the season. Dayan Viciedo followed later in the inning with a two-run homer to give the Sox a 9-4 lead.

WHAT IT MEANS: The victory prevented the Detroit Tigers from making up ground in the AL Central race. The Tigers, who trail the Sox by two games, beat the Twins 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

OUTSIDE THE BOX: Dunn is one home run shy of becoming the 50th player to reach the 400-homer mark for his career. ... Floyd, who was 0-4 with a 7.45 ERA in his first five starts against the Blue Jays before beating them 2-0 on July 7, was 0-2 with an 8.18 ERA in Toronto heading into the game. He allowed three earned runs over six innings and struck out eight to earn his ninth victory of the season. ... Pierzynski extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single in the second inning. ... Orlando Hudson left the game in the sixth inning with a bruised left toe.

NEXT: The four-game series wraps up at 6:07 p.m. CT Thursday with Francisco Liriano (3-10, 5.35 ERA) going for the Sox against Jays' lefty Aaron Laffey (3-3, 4.72).

CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox purchased the contract of outfielder Dewayne Wise from Triple-A Charlotte to fill Paul Konerko's roster spot prior to their game with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

"[I'll] just do what I've always done, come off the bench, pinch-run, defense, whatever it is," Wise said. "I'm going to be ready to try to do whatever I can to help the team keep winning."

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