White Sox place Humber on DL, let Fukudome go

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago White Sox placed pitcher Philip Humber on the 15-day disabled list because of a right elbow flexor strain and designated outfielder Kosuke Fukudome for assignment on Friday.

They also purchased the contract of right-hander Brian Bruney from Triple-A Charlotte. The White Sox announced the moves before their game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Humber was scheduled to start Saturday. Instead, manager Robin Ventura said Dylan Axelrod will take his place.

Humber pitched a perfect game at Seattle on April 21 but hasn't been the same since then. He is 3-4 with a 6.01 ERA this season.

"When I come back, I fully expect to be pitching some good ballgames and giving our team a chance to win," Humber said. "A lot of times this year, I felt like I wasn't really doing that. It wasn't for lack of trying. It wasn't for lack of working, but sometimes, you have to kind of take a step back in order to take a step forward."

He said he wasn't sure how the injury happened, that it was a "gradual thing." He said he can play catch and might make a rehab start or two.

"I don't like having guys go out there trying to fight their way through something if they're not 100 percent," manager Robin Ventura said. "It's more just getting him back to get back to 100 percent."

As for Fukudome, he had been on the disabled list since June 7 with a strained right oblique. He had seven hits in 41 at-bats, after signing with the White Sox in February.

Bruney made 23 relief appearances with the White Sox last season, going 1-0 with a 6.86 ERA, and was signed to a minor-league contract in November.

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