CHICAGO — White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen remains optimistic that Jake Peavy will pitch again this season, even if he's not relying on the right-hander's return.

"I don't count on him," said Guillen.

Peavy will make his third rehab start Monday for Triple-A Charlotte, trying to work his way back from a strained tendon in his right ankle. Guillen said he doesn't want Peavy to risk another injury by returning too soon, and respects how GM Ken Williams is handling the rehab.

"Kenny is on top of this very well. Another general manager would be like 'Hey we brought you here to pitch.' We know when we got him, we said 'Listen just take your time, go do your (rehab) and hopefully we can use you this year,'" Guillen said.

"He wants to pitch, that's why I worry about him. When a guy wants to pitch he might push himself to do something he shouldn't do."

The 28-year-old Peavy was traded to the White Sox on July 31, after going 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA in 13 starts with the Padres. He's been on the DL since June 13.

Peavy is making $11 million this year. He will have a salary of $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. His initial contract included a $22 million club option for 2013 with a $4 million buyout.

Peavy is 92-68 with a 3.29 ERA over eight big league seasons, with 1,348 strikeouts in 212 starts. He was an unanimous selection for the Cy Young Award in 2007, when he went 19-6 with a 2.54 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 34 starts.

"I just talked to him, he is a real bulldog," Guillen said. "There are a lot of fake bulldogs out there, this guy is legit."

Guillen said he'll start Peavy when he's ready to return, even if it's the postseason.

"If we're in the World Series and game four this guy says he is ready to pitch, he would be out on the mound, believe me," Guillen said. "And when we know he is ready to pitch he is going to be out on the mound."