could (shut Shields down). There’s part of it that you could feel that way.

“But, again, he’s working hard to get everything healthy and feel good and be ready to go.”

Shields struggled badly in June, August and his first start of September. But he did pitch a lot like his old self in July, posting a 1.78 ERA in 5 starts.

“It’s probably pretty high,” Ventura said when asked about Shields’ frustration level. “A guy that has pitched this long and has done as well as he has, it can be pretty high. But he puts it behind him, he comes in, he works, he does all the things that you would expect a guy that’s a pro to do.

“He doesn’t come in and hide and not talk to guys and stay to himself. He’s still working hard and he has the confidence to be able to overcome all of it.”

If Shields is unable to return to the mound this season, the Sox can finish up with a rotation featuring Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Anthony Ranaudo and Miguel Gonzalez, who returns from the disabled list tonight to start against the Tigers.

The White Sox also could give top pitching prospect Carson Fulmer a few starts down the stretch.

Fulmer was up and down as a reliever with the Sox in July and August, but he was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte to start. He pitched 11 scoreless innings in his final two outings with the Knights.