CHICAGO — White Sox ace Chris Sale will start on Thursday against the crosstown Cubs in his first appearance since he was suspended for five days for destroying collared throwback uniforms the team was scheduled to wear.

The White Sox announced Sale’s punishment on Sunday after the left-hander was scratched from his scheduled start and sent home the previous night.

The suspension cost Sale $250,000 of his $9.15 million salary. He was also fined about $12,700.

The 27-year-old Sale is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA this year. There is a possibility he could be traded before the Aug. 1 nonwaiver deadline, though it would take quite an offer to get the White Sox to move him.

RANGERS: Slugger Prince Fielder is expected to have season-ending neck surgery for the second time in three years.

Fielder got a second opinion Monday, and General Manager Jon Daniels says Dr. Drew Dossett recommended surgery. That was the same as Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles said last week after an MRI showed a herniation between Fielder’s C4 and C5 disks.

ASTROS: Cuban shortstop Anibal Sierra will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus as part of his minor league contract with Houston.

The 22-year-old played for Avispas de Santiago from 2012-14 in Cuba. He appeared in 91 games, playing 47 games at second base and 26 games at shortstop.

BREWERS: Will Middlebrooks went on the 15-day disabled list after the third baseman left Sunday’s game against the Cubs with a strained lower right leg.

Middlebrooks signed with Milwaukee in the offseason. He was hitting .111 with no homers and one RBI in 10 games since being called up from Triple-A on July 4.

CARDINALS: Matt Carpenter is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment this week.

Carpenter has been sidelined since July 6 with a strained right oblique.

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