Scott Podsednik will head for a rehab assignment in the next two days, meaning he could be reunited with Darin Erstad — at Triple-A Charlotte.
“We’ve joked about it among ourselves, that it will be the first time since right out of spring training that we’ve played in the same ballgame together,” Podsednik said.
Erstad, recovering from a badly strained ankle, started his Charlotte stay Monday with a single in his first at-bat.
When the Sox broke camp in spring training, Podsednik was the leadoff hitter and Erstad No. 2. They have played in only seven games together, producing a 4-3 record.
Podsednik has played in only 19 games because of a strained adductor muscle and a pulled muscle in his side. Erstad has played in 48 games, but has missed the last month and a half with the ankle injury.
Once he leaves for Charlotte, Podsednik believes it will take only “two, three games, give or take, so I can see some live pitching. The goal is to probably meet the [White Sox] mid-Boston series [this weekend], give or take a couple days. Obviously, it depends how my at-bats go, how my side feels. I’m anticipating a smooth three or four days.”
Mac attack
Reliever Mike MacDougal threw out of the bullpen for the first time since going on the disabled June 6 with shoulder tendinitis.
“I’m doing OK,” he said. “I feel a little bit [of pain], but it’s getting better.”
MacDougal will have a day off Tuesday then try to throw in the bullpen again Wednesday. MacDougal is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA and has been one of the major disappointments for an awful bullpen, which had a 3-13 record, 7.57 ERA and nine blown saves in the 57 games before this series.
Extra innings
The Sox started the series against the Indians with a .500 record against American League teams and .500 against the AL Central. The problem was their 4-14 mark against the National League. … The Sox lead the AL with six complete games, three by Mark Buehrle, two by Javier Vazquez and one by Jose Contreras.
