OAKLAND -- White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd said he will have his pitching shoulder examined Thursday in Southern California by Dr. Lewis Yocum, an orthopedic surgeon and team doctor for the Los Angeles Angels.

Floyd left his start Monday night against the A's after throwing just seven pitches because of soreness behind his right shoulder that he had been experiencing since his previous start against the Twins.

"I'll get it checked out and get a couple MRIs," Floyd said. "I think everything will be fine."

Manager Ozzie Guillen said he won't have Floyd pitch again this season unless he's absolutely certain he is "100 percent" healthy.

"In my mind we've got to go with Plan B," Guillen said. "Right now I think [Tony] Pena's going to be a starter, but I have to wait because I might need somebody in the bullpen the next two days. Maybe Pena's the guy. Maybe we've got to start [Carlos] Torres or whoever's available that day."

Pena came in for Floyd on Monday night and pitched six shutout innings. Earlier in the year he made an emergency start against Kansas City, the only start of his Major League career. He gave up four runs over seven innings.

Floyd said he "really wants to get back out there and pitch," but he also doesn't want to "hurt it any further."

"I'll probably take all precautionary measures," Floyd said. "I don't feel like it's anything serious, but it wasn't getting any better when I was throwing [Monday]. Every pitch it seemed like it was getting worse. We're just treating it and taking it day-by-day."

Garcia encouraged by bullpen session

OAKLAND -- Right-hander Freddy Garcia, who missed his past two starts with a sore lower back, pitched a bullpen session before Tuesday night's game and said he felt "better."

Before his session, Garcia said that if he felt "good" during his workout he would start Friday against the Angels in Anaheim. He played long catch then pitched a lengthy bullpen, fist-pumping pitching coach Don Cooper after he was done.

There's still no official word on when Garcia will pitch again, but he seemed encouraged. He said he definitely wants to pitch again this year as he approaches free agency.

"At least one time to make everybody know there's nothing wrong with me," Garcia said. "I've got pain in my back, but shoulder-wise I'm good."

Garcia missed most of the 2008 season recovering from surgery on his pitching shoulder. This year he is 11-6 with a 4.88 ERA and has made 26 starts covering 144 innings. Garcia said he proved he was healthy enough to pitch "every five days."

Garcia said he'd like to play next season again for the White Sox, but doesn't know if he'll be back.

"I'd like to come back here, but who knows what they want?" Garcia said.

Garcia last pitched on Sept. 7 against Detroit, leaving that game after two innings with back pain.

Beckham still experiencing pain in right hand

OAKLAND -- Second baseman Gordon Beckham tested his sore right hand by hitting in the cage before Tuesday night's game against the A's, and the results were discouraging.

"It doesn't feel good," Beckham said. "The impact of the ball hitting the bat is still really painful."

Beckham was out of the lineup for the sixth straight game Tuesday. He has been battling a sore hand since getting hit by a pitch Aug. 30 at Cleveland.

There are only 11 games left after Tuesday, and Beckham is running out of time to recover this season.

"The plan was to hit today, hit tomorrow and take batting practice on Friday," he said. "I don't think that's going to happen, just on how it feels today."

Manager Ozzie Guillen said it "was not good news on Beckham," and that he has no idea if or when he'll be able to play again this season.

"We have to still continue to have him have the treatment. ... That's a very, very sensitive spot," Guillen said.