PHOENIX — With Alex Rios coming off a career-best year, combined with a shortage of full-time left-handed batters, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said he's likely to place perennial cleanup hitter Paul Konerko in the fifth spot.

"The way it sits right now, it probably lines up with Paul batting (fifth) and Rios third," Ventura said Friday. "We will mix and match and change it up. For right now, that's probably where we'll start."

Konerko made all but one of his 143 starts in 2012 in the cleanup spot. But with the departure of left-handed hitter A.J. Pierzynski to Texas, Ventura has thought openly about keeping leadoff hitter Alejandro De Aza and Adam Dunn as far apart as possible because they're the only full-time left-handed hitters.

Dunn made 145 of his 149 starts last year in the third spot, but Rios offers much more speed there and Dunn's placement in the cleanup spot splits up Rios and Konerko — both right-handed hitters.

Konerko hasn't batted fifth since 2009, when he made 62 starts there.

Ventura added that Konerko could bat cleanup and Dunn fifth against a left-hander.

Jeff Keppinger will bat second, although Ventura experimented during Rios' absence for the World Baseball Classic with batting Keppinger third and Konerko fifth.

Crain on the hook: Reliever Jesse Crain will throw in a minor league game Saturday in his latest test to prove he can be fully recovered from a right adductor strain by opening day.

If Crain pitches well and pain-free, he is scheduled to pitch Monday against the Angels.

"If Jesse is healthy, we know what he does," pitching coach Don Cooper said. "We want him to feel better, and we want to feel better by seeing him go out there a couple times and throw the ball like he can. When Jesse is healthy, we know what we've got."

Crain has been limited to one exhibition game. Meanwhile, Cooper stressed that Brian Omogrosso's six walks in 102/3 innings entering Friday night aren't a major concern because Omogrosso issued three walks in one game.

"He hasn't let guys walk down there without swinging the bat," Cooper said.

Omogrosso is believed to have a slight edge over Ramon Troncoso, who has made 175 appearances with the Dodgers and has a 1.69 ERA in 10 games this spring.

Santiago's slate: Left-hander Hector Santiago was thrilled that Major League Baseball announced it will honor Sandy Hook Elementary victims during opening-day ceremonies, with all uniformed personnel wearing a ribbon patch and a moment of silence observed for the 26 people who died in December.

"I'm doing some other things that ... try to show that we do care and trying to help out in every way we can," said Santiago, who spoke to Sandy Hook students in January.

Santiago added that he wouldn't be disappointed in the likely event Dylan Axelrod is chosen to take John Danks' spot in the rotation despite Santiago making five appearances in the Puerto Rican Winter League to prepare as a starter.

"If Danks stays (back) and Axelrod is the starting guy, I think (Axelrod) is a better starter than he is a reliever, number-wise and just seeing him out there," Santiago said.

Coming up: Axelrod, Danks and Matt Thornton will pitch in a minor league game Sunday. Chris Sale will pitch two or three innings Tuesday against the Rangers. Left-hander Jose Quintana will pitch in a minor league game Wednesday — the Sox's final day in Arizona.

mgonzales@tribune.com

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