DETROIT -- Chicago White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup against the Detroit Tigers because of an oblique strain.
While taking swings in the batting cage before the game, Dunn felt some pain on his right side.
"I did it originally in Baltimore on Wednesday," Dunn said. "It came on a check swing in my first at-bat. It was sore and Thursday I knew it was there."
Dunn, who leads the major leagues in home runs with 38, hopes he will be able to play on Sunday when the Sox face Justin Verlander.
Veteran infielder Dan Johnson, just recalled from Triple-A, will take Dunn's place at DH on Saturday.
"(Sox trainer) Herm (Schneider) has seen a lot of these in his life, so hopefully he has a nice little program for this," Dunn said. "I am a pretty quick healer, so hopefully it will be good to go tomorrow."
The White Sox hold a two-game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central as their three-game series continues Saturday and Sunday.