Philip Humber, perfect-game pitcher in April, could now be headed to bullpen

Philip Humber, who threw a perfect game in April, could be headed to the bullpen after a flurry of recent struggles on the mound. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Philip Humber, who threw a perfect game in April, could be headed to the bullpen after a flurry of recent struggles on the mound. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

From perfect game to the bullpen in less than two months? That's what it's looking like for Chicago White Sox pitcher Philip Humber unless he turns things around quickly.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said after Humber's latest lackluster outing Sunday — 5 1/3 innings, six hits, five earned runs and three homers allowed — that Humber could be moved to the bullpen.

‘‘He has to [keep pitching],’’ Ventura told reporters, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘It’s hard to work your way out of it if you don’t pitch. Whether that’s starting or the bullpen, I don’t know. But it has to get better.’’

The Sun-Times breaks down Humber's dreadful numbers since his perfect game against the Seattle Mariners on April 21: Nine starts, one win, four losses, and a 7.50 ERA. Despite the latest poor outing, Humber was defiant talking to reporters after the game.

‘‘For the most part, I made some good pitches,’’ he said, according to The Sun-Times.

One thing that Ventura did confirm: Humber will make his next start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.