Instead when Peavy takes the mound Saturday night against the Kansas City Royals, he'll be pitching for a third-place team whose chances of making the postseason are slim.

"Next year is really what I'm gearing up and getting ready for, but maybe a postseason run. Stranger things have happened," Peavy said Friday when the White Sox started their final homestand of the season 6{ games out of first.

Peavy, the 2007 NL Cy Young winner, was acquired from San Diego at the July 31 trade deadline. The right-hander has been on the disabled list since June 13 with a strained tendon in his right ankle and was struck on his pitching elbow during a rehab game on Aug. 24.

Peavy said he's healthy and has worked long hours to rehab his ankle. He added that his elbow is fine and he has no idea how long he'll be able to pitch or how many he can throw against he Royals.

"I had a pretty significant injury that at times surgery was talked about," he said.

"It's nice that the process is on the back side of things because I certainly watched my fair share of baseball without having any say in any games. ... I'm not anywhere close to being on top of my game and being where I can throw eight innings and feel like I can uphold my stuff. But, you got to start somewhere."

Peavy's last rehab start was Aug. 29 when he left after 3⅓ innings because his elbow got tight.

Manager Ozzie Guillen said he wants Peavy to feel good when he's taken out Saturday.

"Hopefully, when I take this guy out or he takes himself out of the game, he's healthy. That's what I want," Guillen said.